Senior Andrea Sepulveda’s collection of bold and unique coats, which she called Looking through the Looking Glass, was inspired by the curved lines of modern sculpture and created with a mix of silk and wool fabrics hand dyed and detailed with metallic and opaque paints. Sepulveda’s designs earned Best of Show and Best Design. The Best of Show is determined by the garment scored highest by a panel of judges. Melissa Castelo earned Best Construction for her Road Less Travelled collection.

This year’s show also featured garments from designers at UIW’s sister school Tainan University of Technology in Taiwan. UIW has had a working relationship with Tainan University since 1988.

Miss Fiesta San Antonio Lauren Holt, her court Crystal Diaz and Samantha Vasquez, and the Queen of Soul Chelsea Richardson attended this year’s Cutting Edge Fiesta® Fashion Show. Guests were also treated to a surprise guest appearance by El Rey Feo Bill Drain.

Proceeds from the show fund scholarships for UIW’s fashion management students. This year, two students received $1,500 scholarships.

Find more Cutting Edge Fiesta® Fashion Show coverage on page 34 of the May issue of City Pages online magazine at www.citypagesmagazine.com.

More than 800 guests celebrated the 30th anniversary of the annual Cutting Edge Fiesta® Fashion Show. UIW senior Cassidy Klein (right) swept the competition with her collection, Sweet & Sassy, designed for pre-teen girls. She went home with several awards, including the 2010 Best of Show.  She wanted to create fashions that were “fun, colorful and most importantly – age appropriate.”