Jaquelyn Zavala Castro is a textile and apparel design major from Lincoln. On Nov. 7, she was one of several students from the Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design who was a featured designer for Project Funway. The signature fundraising event for Fresh Start Home, Project Funway features TMFD students and local designers who transform repurposed materials into one-of-a-kind runway designs. In this blog, Jaquelyn shares about her experience with Project Funway 2025.
My experience at Project Funway was incredibly rewarding, to say the least. The event is a fashion show hosted by Fresh Start, a non-profit housing program that helps women experiencing homelessness and other struggles they may be facing. My classmates and I were able to listen to the inspiring and heartening stories told at this event. I was so proud to be a part of something so meaningful.
The theme of the show was to turn something old into something new. Our class was instructed to choose an item from the department's historical collections that was beyond repair or about to be discarded. I chose a beautiful black dress with tulle, embroidery, and satin. Although it was very beautiful, it was my job to give it new life. After a month of deconstruction, reconstruction, seam ripping, cutting, sewing, and more seam ripping, I was left with something completely new and different.
This project pushed my skillset, my knowledge, and even my sleep schedule. I experimented with techniques I had never attempted before. I learned how to make a corset, install eyelets, apply interfacing, and work with structured materials. The results were something I felt proud of. In addition to designing, we were also responsible for finding our own models and conducting. This helped me understand every step involved in preparing for a fashion show – from designing to seeing the finished piece displayed on the runway. Project Funway was fun, nerve-wracking, and exhilarating with opportunities to meet new people and learn new things. There was never a dull moment.
College of Education and Human Sciences
Textiles, Merchandising & Fashion Design
