Sifford designs second-place winner

Shawneka Sifford, a junior at Encampment High School took second place in Fashion Sketch (Occupational) at the Family Career and Community Leaders of America’s National Cluster in Salt Lake City Nov. 20-23.

In the competition Shawneka was given a scenario and had 45 minutes to draw and explain the design.

Her scenario involved a design for casual/business attire. The design would work for the business day, but also for a casual evening out with friends. Shawneka said she was given the choice to design for a male or female. “I chose the man’s design because I thought it would be easier and I would have more choices,” Shawneka said. Designing for women can get really fancy, Shawneka explained.

To prepare for the National Cluster, Shawneka studied fashions and how clothing makes a person look different. “Clothing affects the way you look,” she said. Her teacher and adviser, Cheryl Munroe, had fashion books from which Shawneka was able to learn basics of fashion and design.

After presenting a sketch, Shawneka had to do a five-minute oral presentation on her sketch.

“It was really fun. If something of this sort comes up again, I would do it again,” Shawneka said.

She is not sure if she wants to go into design as a career, but she said it seems like it would be a fun job.