March 2007 Winners

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The March winner for the Creativity + Innovation Award is Mary L. Morris. She designed and constructed a modern dress based on a 1940s style gown from the Beeman Historic Costume Collection located in Ball State's Applied Science and Technology Building.

Mary researched the types of fabrics used, body silhouettes, colors, styles, accessories, jewelry, and reasons behind fashion styles due to the economical and political events of the era. Even though her vintage-inspired gown mimics the asymmetrical lines, pleats, and length popular in the 1940s, she made an original dress by adding her own design style. She also decided to update the colors from green and gold to black and white to give the gown a still-classic, yet more modern quality.

Ultimately, Mary was able to turn her research on construction techniques and design used in the 1940s into a timeless dress.

Photos of Project

Professor Nominations

NewsCenter Article

Mary L. Morris
Majors: Apparel Design
and Fashion Merchandising
Minor: Marketing
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
Role in project: Designer
Aspiration: Work as a technical designer in a firm. Network and increase experiences within the fashion design field. Then work as an assistant designer and eventually design a line and sell clothing as an independent designer.

Mary's project was done as a part of two classes: FCSMR 303-Draping and FCSMR 360-History of Costume. In draping class, she made patterns by using the draping method. This method consists of draping muslin (a cheap, easy to tear cotton fabric) over a dress form. In History of Costume, she had to research a decade of the 20^th century, give a report, and make a garment from this era.

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