Teen Stylin’ is a twelve-week program developed by VMFA Education staff and offered annually at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and includes workshops in which students learn from professional fashion designers and industry specialists to create innovative garments inspired by VMFA’s collection.
The 2022 Teen Stylin’: Journey program marries creative fashion design with the principles of visual art. Student designers will select a work from VMFA’s permanent collection and, using creative construction and alternative material techniques, will create wearable works of art. Inspired by the special exhibition, Tsherin Sherpa: Spirits, the theme, Journey, will ask students to examine the historical background of their artwork, and consider how the passages that their art object has made reflects, connects to, or diverges from the personal journeys they are on as young people.
Teen Stylin’ students may sign up for a series of free Saturday “Stylin’ in the Studios” courses and work with artists and fashion designers to build on works and class instruction.
Students can also apply to complete the program independently with optional virtual assistance. Applicants will mark their schedule preference on their application
Students’ designs are later showcased for the greater Richmond community during a highly-popular runway exhibition where a panel of professionals from the field of art, design, and fashion select winners in the following categories: “Best Overall” “Best Use of Alternative Materials,” “Most Creative Construction,” “Best Interpretation of a Work of Art,” “Best Interpretation of the Theme,” and “Most Wearable.” If needed, the runway exhibition will be adapted to abide by COVID-19 state and locality guidelines.
Following the runway exhibition, the fashion renderings of all Teen Stylin’ participants and the winning garments are displayed in VMFA’s Art Education Center.