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This monthly seminar is put on for DECA and Fashion students. GCC's DECA
(Distributive Education Club of America) is part of a national organization for
students interested in pursuing a career in business, marketing or fashion
retailing. Anya will speak at 1:30 p.m. on October. 23 in Room T119 of the
Conable Technology Building.
Ayoung-Chee was
born in New York but at age 2 her Trinidadian parents moved the family back to
Trinidad. She developed a
passion for art and design while a student at St. Joseph Convent School in Port
of Spain, Trinidad. She studied at St.
Martins School of Art and Design in London and has a degree from Parsons School of Design in New York City.
She spent several years working as a designer in New York before returning to
Trinidad in 2007 after her 18-year old brother, Pilar,
died in a car accident.
In 2008, she was chosen Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe and
represented her country in the Miss
Universe competition.
On the Project Runway website Ayoung-Chee
says the
first item of clothing she ever made was ‘‘A slouchy gray jumpsuit I wore to
Miss Universe.’’ Her ability to consult on her Miss Universe wardrobe sparked
an interest in fashion design.
In May 2009, she launched a women’s
clothing label, PILAR.
On a whim, she applied for Project Runway after seeing a tweet about the
application deadline. She won season nine in October 2011. She has hosted her
own fashion program on Caribbean television called Make It Yours.
‘‘Anya is an inspiration to our students
because she has a lot of determination and drive, which is essential to succeed
in the world of fashion,’’ fashion professor Rick Dudkowski said.
Fashion students are helping to
publicize Ayoung-Chee’s visit.
‘‘This is like a dream come true,’’ said
design major Candace Cooper, a GCC sophomore who has her own clothing line,
Can’de Couture.
‘‘I’m very excited to hear about her
Project Runway experience and to learn from her about developing your own
designs.’’
Cooper plans to continue her studies in
New York City next year and has high expectations for her future.
For more information, contact Marketing
Communications Associate Director Donna Rae Sutherland at (585) 343-0055 ext.
6616, or via email: dsutherland@genesee.edu.
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