[ad_1]
Dominic Tosto bursts into a wide smile when he receives a surprise – a suit designed and sewn just for him.
The 15-year-old is wearing the white hockey jersey of 17-year-old Sophia Rosequist, who is taking a class in fashion design at Smithson Valley High School. The fashion design student stenciled “Dom” on his back. Underneath was a large vinyl black “24”, his friend Timmy’s baseball playing number.
Dominic’s mum Sarah Moss, 43, watched as Sophia helped him into the white shirt. The teenager, who is autistic and hard of hearing, looks at his reflection in the door mirror and makes a peace sign – a sign of consent.
This year is a first for Dominique – he’s one of 34 models walking the runway at the 15th Annual Fashionable Fashion Show hosted by Spina Bifida Texas. The charity provides services and programs to people affected by the situation in South and Central Texas.
The fashion show will be held Saturday in the auditorium of John Paul Stevens High School, 600 N. Ellison Dr. In addition to Smithson Valley, Stevens, Johnson, Wagner, Brennan and East Central high schools will also participate in the event. Doors open at 1 p.m. Advance tickets are $5 and are available online at sbtx.org/fashionABLE. Tickets are $7 at the door.
Read moreSam Greco’s mother prays for St. Francis’ son. He is now dedicating the saint’s statue to San Antonio.
Vincent T. Davis, a 22-year Air Force veteran, began a second career as a journalist and found his calling. Throughout San Antonio, he discovers amazing stories about everyday people by watching and listening. He shares his stories with Express-News subscribers every Monday morning.
The charity’s former director, Nora Oyler, created the event after attending a fashion show at Body and Soul University with her daughter Cynthia, who has spina bifida. The girl asked if she could be a model one day.
“You really can be a model,” Oyler told her.
Oyler contacted Sandy Starr, a fashion design teacher at Jefferson High School, to help him create the first show. Student designers create custom clothing that can be worn with braces, prosthetics, or wheelchairs.
Roseanne Gonzales, Spina Bifida Texas Executive Director, and Shauna Douglass, fashion design teacher, joined Moss for Dominik Fitting. They admired the work between sewing stations, metal cutting boards, mannequins and clothes racks.
Gonzalez, 42, says she loves the promise of an ongoing relationship between the model and the designer.
“They don’t see disability. They see a person,” she says. “That’s when the magic happens for high school students. They hug each other and walk down the street. I’m excited for both.
Gonzalez said the community gives its support every year. Cavender Cares is covering the entry fees for the models’ families. The GVTC Foundation is providing snacks and refreshments backstage.
This year’s fashion show featured eight designers and four models from the Smithsonian Valley. Students interact with parents to find out what modifications are needed for fashion and casual wear.
“All my advanced students do this,” Douglas, 45, said. “It gives them a chance to have a rewarding experience and enjoy looking at the models. The parents are very grateful and they get to see their kids wearing what everyone else is wearing. You can’t always do that.”
Also on ExpressNews.comA San Antonio public health nurse waits for Cesar Chavez in the middle of the Delano Wine Creek March.
Douglas and her students participated in Fashionable for six years. Sofia talked Dominic into making him a costume reminiscent of his favorite sport, hockey. She listened to indie rock music as she improvised to meet his needs.
The collar of the jersey is wide enough to attach two hearing aids on either side so it can slide over the head. Sofia wore white basketball pants with an elasticated waistband and matching navy bands. Dominique plans to complete his ensemble with a pair of black Asics given to him by his older brother. She spent more than two weeks sewing the pieces together on her stylist’s sewing machine.
“I was so proud of what I finished,” said Sophia, a junior. “I’m excited to see how he reacts to it.”
She is the co-president of the fashion club, which hosts the school’s annual fashion show. Proceeds from the gala will go to FashionAble.
“This is huge for kids,” Moss said. “It’s individual and something different for them.”
Dominique says he’s ready to step off the spotlight with Sofia’s side, just like the rest of the model/designer team. But that day he was worried about his shirt.
“Can I take this house?” He bent down and asked his mother.
“Not today,” she said. After the fashion show, it’s all yours.
Read more‘Chi is energy’: Former art professor teaches meditation through movement.
Moss credits Sofia, Douglas and Gonzales for Dominique’s fashion experience. She is excited to see her son share his joy of life with the audience, his family and friends.
“He has an aura and positivity and passion for life that really touches everyone,” she said. “Maybe a kid or a parent will smile on their day or say, ‘Hey, I can do that.'”
vtdavis@express-news.net
[ad_2]
Source link
