BYU-Idaho's apparel design program assembled a 70's fashion show in collaboration with the city of Rexburg, commemorating the Teton Dam flood's anniversary on Monday at the Romance Theater.

The city of Rexburg reached out to the apparel design program and asked if they would be interested in putting on a '70s-themed fashion show, and Esther Garcia, a junior studying apparel entrepreneurship and the student representative for this event, said she jumped on the opportunity to lead the event.

Garcia said she wanted to use this event for her capstone because she wanted to help commemorate a time when a community had to come together during a time of tragedy. She added that she was pleasantly surprised by the night's turnout and loved how this show included students and community members of various ages.

"The turnout was really good, and the models were really excited, and they worked really hard on their outfits,” Garcia said. “I think the thing that I'm most proud of is how many models and designers participated.”  

Julann Blake, an apparel design professor, said the event included both retro outfits created by the students and vintage outfits from the 1970s.

"I have 10 of my own clothes that I've made, or my mother made from the 70s, because I'm that old, that students are modeling for me," Blake said. "And Sister Barlow has got some of her aunt's clothes, and some other people donated. I want to say she's got almost 10 things, and then all the other students have made their own. They might have designed it themselves, or they took one of our 70s patterns and then made something from it."

Garcia modeled a gold, '70s-inspired outfit she made.

"It's gold, like shimmery spandex, and it's a leggings pattern that I altered to have bellbottoms, and then a long sleeve fitted top that I also altered to have bell sleeves," Garcia said. "And then just to add a little bit more to it, we added gold tinsel fringe to the bottoms of the pants and the shoes, and it took me about 10 hours to make, mostly because I messed up a lot, but it turned out really well. I'm really happy with it. I love the 70s, and so I just wanted to be able to make something from the 70s, but I figured if it was for a fashion show, I would just have to go all out, so I did the disco outfit."

Blake said she is proud of all the students who chose to participate and was excited to see models wearing her vintage outfits on stage.

"I'm just excited because our students are excited, and they're so creative and willing to just volunteer," Blake said. "This is extracurricular; they don't get a grade for this, although one of them will get a brand-new sewing machine. We're doing a prize for those who made their own 70s clothes; they're going to be in a raffle, and they'll announce the winner tonight. We just have the best students ever, and they're so creative, and we love them."

The show included an audience costume contest for the best 70's outfits and was followed by a performance of the 70's Kids Tribute Band and paired with a vintage car show outside of the Romance theater.