Cape High students medal in fashion design competition

Cape High’s textiles students made their strongest showing ever at a national competition in California, where six students medaled at the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America annual event.

Ashlyn Moore earned gold in fashion construction for a pink, floor-length gown that also netted gold in Delaware’s competition, said Cape High family and consumer science teacher Alayna Aiken. “She placed seventh in the nation,” Aiken said. “That was really cool because a lot of students participating came from schools that specialize in sewing.”

Jasmine Mayo earned gold in fashion design for a children’s clothing line she designed to support the Sunrise Sewing School Aiken launched in Kenya. Jasmine designed four outfits and wrote a business plan for her line, Kwa Watoto, which translates to “for the children” in Swahili.

“She blew the judges away,” Aiken said. “She scored a 95 out of 100. Her ideas really won them over.”

Kimberly Aiken won silver in fashion construction for her vintage burgundy dress made from a pattern she found in a 1954 issue of Vogue. As president of Cape High’s chapter, Kimmie also received training as a state officer in FCCLA. 

In interior design, Molly Godwin and Andreza Barros earned bronze for their design of the interior of a tropical hotel room they called Mar Terra, which means ‘sea and land’ in Portuguese, a nod to Andreza, a Brazilian who speaks Portuguese.

Mikiyah Ennals earned bronze in recycle and redesign for a two-piece women’s jumper she constructed from an old pair of men’s overalls. 

Aiken said students enjoyed trading state pins with students from other states. “Delaware is such a small state, our pins were in demand,” Aiken said.

During their week-long stay in California, students experienced three earthquakes. They explored Palm Springs and the desert, where they were told the 107-degree temperature was much cooler than normal. Students also toured Laguna Beach and the location of music festival Coachella. “Six teens living under one roof for a week really got a taste for what college life will be like,” Aiken said. “Many of them had never flown on an airplane before. It was a great adventure for them, and even better that all students medaled.”