Nearly 10 years ago, Dyana Harrison had a unique vision for a fundraising event for and by her design students. On April 7 that event, Clary Runway, will come to life again at Living Arts of Tulsa.
Clary Runway started as a small annual event at Clary Sage College with parents and friends. The school focuses on creative career training in fields like cosmetology, barbering, makeup artistry and fashion design. Over nine years, the show, which highlights student work, has grown exponentially; 2019’s runway event was at Cain’s Ballroom, and after a two-year hiatus, this year the venue is Living Arts.
Clary Runway in 2018
“There’s a fashion show concept — the event is a big party — people get together and wear fancy clothes and socialize,” says Derek Ball, Clary Sage Community Higher Ed director of operations. “The fashion show anchors the evening: All the fashion that goes down the runway has been designed, patterned, constructed and styled by the students.”
Students studying cosmetology, makeup artistry and esthetics do hair and makeup for the models, and interior design students help with the decor and design for the event, Ball says.
The event helps fund student scholarships at 50%-100% tuition coverage, Ball explains. “We get a variety of students from different backgrounds. Sometimes there is a financial barrier that stops them from pursuing their education, so this helps them bypass that to enter the workforce and provide for their families, oftentimes breaking the cycle of poverty.” The event is hosted by Community HigherEd and it benefits Clary Sage College, Community Care College and Oklahoma Technical College.
Clary Runway in 2018
Ball recalls a student success story of one scholarship recipient in the esthetician program who now owns a business in Tulsa: “She had a pipe dream of opening her own business and being an entrepreneur. She went through the scholarship application and interview process and blew away all of our panel that was part of the selection process and was awarded the full ride. She started her own business with no educational debt and has been a successful businesswoman since then.”
Clary Runway also will include a new concept this year: live sculptures, in which models will stand on platforms and patrons can cast a vote for their favorite look. There also will be a live artist painting, and the finished piece will be auctioned.
Visit claryrunway.com for event tickets, VIP tickets and sponsorship packages.
