BYOB: build your own book at John Casablancas
February 20th, 2009 | Published in Fashion Lovers | 2 Comments
Words and photos by Maria. (Above, left to right: Molly, Jolene Wilson, Budi Nasrun, and Samantha.
The students at John Casablancas Institute are getting more than what they paid for—and in a good way. Executing a creative photo shoot resulting in solid and professional images even before they graduate is something that a fashion, makeup, and hair styling student doesn’t get to do very often. In fact, John Casablacas is the only school that offers such an opportunity to their students on a constant basis. Since 2004 the Fashion Arts, Makeup Artistry, and Hair Art Design Programs have been coming together creatively every other month in a day known as BYOB (acronym for “build your own book”). During BYOB students spend a day putting together a photo shoot with 4 looks they have created themselves–undoubtedly real hands-on experience in the type of work many will come across once graduated.
When I arrive at John Casablancas during the latest BYOB, the students are well on their way with their respective photo shoots. The makeup classroom table is inundated with notes, purses, jackets, and random things: everything from shoes, to rolls of tape, to hairclips and water bottles. The temperature in the room is noticeably higher than the hallway outside, no doubt due to all the creative minds in movement… although it may have a little something to do with the fact that there are nearly 15 people in the room at the time, all bustling about in their work, not to mention me and my hot coffee cup being added to the mix. I make my way to the nearest model, who is being fretted over in preparation for her group’s second look. Sarah Norris Jones is adding the finishing touches on Molly’s makeup, her work focused even as I bombard her with questions. “I’m thrilled about [participating in BYOB] because it’s a sign that I am doing well in my classes,” she says, “I’m really excited to have more images for my portfolio because I obviously don’t have a portfolio yet,” she adds with a smile.
By the time most groups are on their third look, the atmosphere is buzzing with the excitement of the day. Many of the students have never worked on a creative photo shoot with a “real” model and photographer, so the enthusiasm is definitely at a high level. One group has just come back from shooting at Sun-Yat-Sen Garden, just a few blocks southeast of the school. Another group is prepping to go onto the rooftop of the parkade next door, where the view of the ocean, mountains, and industrial whatsits in between can be seen with crisp clarity. And one group is just going down the hallway to the studio that has been temporarily set up in a classroom. Kelsey Prout arrives with a piece of cloth and what looks to be a necklace. She proceeds to fashion these items into an ankle accessory right on the model, which adds to the hard-edge, punk-rock look the group is trying to achieve. “With BYOB you really get to express your creativity,” says Prout, “[...] you work with new people in the school that you’ve never met before and it’s amazing because we’re all so talented in such different aspects.”
BYOB isn’t the only chance that student’s get to collaborate, although it is the only one in which they get full creative freedom. JCI Mixers are the same concept and happen more often, but the groups are not provided with a professional model or a photographer. “The JCI Mixer started out just so that students could do styling on each other to experience working with ‘non-model types’,” says Nicola Dohaney, John Casablancas Institute Director. They are limited to 3 predetermined looks, which students interpret to the best of their ability. There are also countless workshops held during the weekends with subjects ranging from money management to fashion writing. “Some students make their decision [to attend JCI] based on the workshops we offer,” boasts Dohaney, “we have a book full of pictures from the workshops and people are just wowed by them.”
But BYOB really takes the cake as the favourite workshop at JCI. As the day draws to a close and some students are packing up, others are still in full-steam-ahead mode preparing to move to a different location to continue shooting. It’s exciting to see their creativity unfolding before them and the sparkle in their eyes at the realization that maybe this is an aspect of their career that they should really be pursuing. Whatever choices students make after experiencing BYOB, one thing is certain: our schools are the basis of our future–and as for the future of Vancouver’s fashion industry, John Casablancas is certainly doing its part.
Keep a lookout for String Magazine’s upcoming editorial where one group’s photo story will be featured.
February 23rd, 2009
Sweet stuff! =)
Well written!!
February 1st, 2010
This was a great article! I’m currently looking into a few different schools for Make-Up Artistry. Is there anything you can say to add to my research in making a decision between schools? (Especially btwn. Blanche and Casablancas). Any comment would be appreciated! Thank-you!