  | The students in URI's Fashion Merchandising Society bring creativity, hard work, and showmanship to their annual spring show. | ||||||||||||||
 By Dave Lavallee ’79, M.P.A. ’87 The Memorial Union Ballroom will become an urban tableau on Wednesday, April 17, with funky fashions, chain-link fencing, and graffiti as members of URI’s Fashion Merchandising Society hit the street with their fashion show, “Urban Jumble.” And at least one clothing line for the show will be right at home on any city street. Junior Suzanne Piubeni of Springfield, Mass., has been creating a number of pieces made in the shapes and colors of traffic signs. “I am trying to convey an urban street feel,” said the public relations chair of the society. One piece is a bright yellow top with bold black letters stating CAUTION, while another bright red top is in the octagonal shape of a stop sign. Piubeni is also creating pants and matching scarves, belts, and chokers. This will be her first year in the show. “I have gone every year, and I’ve been amazed at what people have done. It’s exciting to see how an idea becomes real,” said Piubeni, who wants to be involved with fashion show production or promotions when she graduates. While many of the 35 members of the society have been preparing for the show since the fall, the serious work began in February. In the past, students modeled between 60 and 70 items of clothing they designed and made. Last year, students created 14 clothing lines with such beguiling names as “Fascination,” “Di Moda,” and “Danger.” “Doing a show like this helps you realize what goes into such an event,” said Marnie Safran, a junior from Westbury, Long Island, the co-president of the organization with Annalisa Amato. “Besides creating the clothes for the show, you have to work with groups of people planning and promoting.” Safran said she and other club members have tried to get the group more involved in fund-raising to support the $1,000 budget for the fashion show. In the fall, the group traveled to New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology for a career day as well. “We have to worry about sewing, public relations, tickets, advertising, and creating the set,” Safran said. “Each designer also picks out his or her own music.” Danielle Tassone, a junior from Foster, R.I., has been developing a summer collection for the show. Tassone, who like her friends, is majoring in textiles, fashion merchandising and design, wants to open a tailor shop after graduation. “Working on this show has taught me a great deal about time management, getting the clothes and the set to look just right,” Tassone said. “I’ve learned a lot about teamwork and cooperation. After last year’s show, someone asked me to make clothes for them. I love that; it’s a real compliment.” Dave Lavallee ’79, M.P.A. ’87, is a public information and communications specialist in URI’s
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