Fashion is a form of self-expression to many at Malden High School, but there has never been a club or class in the school where fashion can be expressed. So far in the school year, clubs such as the Collectors Club, Brain Matters Club, HOSA, and Pop Culture Club were created and are thriving. Now, it has come time for the Fashion Club to make its mark.
The club was founded by senior Laurene Pierre-Louis-Pierre, who based the idea on wanting “this club to be a place where students can express themselves freely through the art of fashion and to build a non-judgmental community.”
Courtney Braz, a social sciences teacher in Brunelli, who is also the advisor of the club, praised Pierre for mentioning the idea to her attention as “it’s something that we don’t have anything really similar to at Malden High.”
“I thought it would be awesome, and I know that she would be the one to do it because she always has great outfits and loves fashion herself,” Braz positively shared.
“Ever since I was little, I’ve always adored fashion, especially in shows I watched like: Bratz, Monster High, and Barbie,” senior Luiza Fernanda Da Silva expressed
“I have always been intrigued by this form of expression and realized it brought me a lot of happiness to wear clothes that match how I’m feeling,” Da Silva added.
After holding its first meeting on September 30th, there has already been a tremendous amount of progress. Da Silva shared that the environment of the meetings are “welcoming” and “chill” and that at the meetings, students are always interested in their work when it comes to drawing designs and other activities.
Their interest flyers posted up around the school, their stylish and extravagant Instagram account, and their frequent submissions for recognition on the daily MHS morning announcements all have made an impact in reaching new members and gaining more attraction.
With the club still in its early stages, non-president officer positions were open. During their most recent meeting, members such as junior Amira Housni, sophomore Sara Elrhoul, and Da Silva ran for various positions. Each running candidate had the choice of either presenting with a poster or a slideshow.
But before the presentations commenced, Braz announced one of the main goals of the meeting was to finish the club’s bulletin board and start on the club’s agenda.
Housni, who ran for multiple positions, explained the position selection process as “they’ll try and work it around to determine what you were running for and get you to that position” remarked Housni.
As the rest of the candidates concluded their presentations, it came time for the actual meeting to begin. For most of the duration, Housni described the activity as “fashion templates” where students could sketch anything they wanted. “It could be anything. A costume you want to do for Halloween or just an outfit in general,” Housni explained.
As part of Principal Michael Sabin’s new club initiative, students can get their bulletin boards placed around the school in one of the four houses. On October 28th, the Fashion Club finished and placed it in the glass case at the end of the Brunelli hallway.
The remainder of the meeting was finishing the club bulletin board. The board had been undergoing work for two weeks and initially had “Fashion Club” spelled out made from flannel patterned fabric in the center and around it were cutouts of fashion magazines, icons, and brands such as Vogue, Chanel, and Dior.
Even though the club is centered around expression and community, it also values creativity. Braz explained how this club is not “digital” because here, students are using their minds to create and design things, in which she used the bulletin board as an example.
Over the course of the year, the club looks forward to holding sewing, crocheting, and knitting workshops. “The Fashion Club will provide a space to allow students to take skills related to fashion with them after high school” Pierre remarked.
As the election for officers will continue until the next meeting, November 11th, Da Silva who hopes to be elected as Vice President, expressed that in her final year here, she looks forward to helping club members learn more about fashion while also completing activities such as clothes making, promoting the club through a magazine, and a potential fashion show.
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