I recently visited Club Rush, a flurry of students and clubs, candy being passed out, people talking, and poster boards advertising the various clubs available to students. I spoke with one student, Tobias Halaban, about his club: Marshall Fashion Design Club. He sold me on it, so I stopped by the following week. The club is held every Wednesday during lunch in Teacher Barish’s room behind the student store. I made my way to the club and entered through 2 doors (it should be noted that the doors, although locked when you get there, are opened by someone from the club if you knock). The inside of the club is nice — the tinted windows and calm classroom environment offer a great escape from the chaos of the schoolyard and a perfect place to focus on whatever you want to work on. Once there I interviewed Toby, the club organizer.
When asked for whom he would recommend the club, Toby told me that he would recommend it to people “who want to learn how to sew; or people who want to take Teacher Barish’s design club” but can’t because their schedule won’t allow it. Toby added an interesting detail to his answer: the club also offers students “a chance to participate in the fashion show at the end of the year.” This means the students in the club if chosen, can be featured in the end-of-year fashion show at the Greek.
The club is a perfect space for creative people — there are no rules, no prompts, and no deadlines. The club lets you spend your time and energy as you please. “Usually people come and bring projects that they are working on at home or in the Fashion Design class,” Toby stated. The club functions as a continuation of the class, as I found myself surrounded by people I had seen in my class who offered a great way to expand on their ideas.
On top of a workspace filled with creative peers, the club also offers materials and tools for students to use in their work. An array of sewing machines line the back right corner of the classroom, and on the wall above them, threads of all colors and needles of all sizes. Toby showed me around the workspace: he brought me to a corner of the room where there was a 6 ft tall wrap of denim available to students to use for free. But most importantly, “space and time to work on your clothes,” as Toby put it towards the end of our interview.
If you want a place to work, relax, or meet with friends, the Fashion Design Club provides many materials, tools, and locations around the class for any number of activities. Stop by on Wednesdays during Lunch in Teacher Barish’s room and have fun.
