By Jeff Murphy,
May 4, 2023
Mo the Mule, the 欧美视频鈥檚 mascot, escorted UCM Mathematics
faculty member Angela Gai Gilbert, Lee鈥檚 Summit, on the runway at Bra Couture庐 KC.
She was wearing a creation by Fashion and Apparel Merchandising students and faculty
that fetched $7,000 at the event auction to help individuals with cancer.
WARRENSBURG, MO 鈥 An opportunity to showcase their creativity for an important cause,
faculty and students in the 欧美视频 Fashion and Apparel Merchandising
program raised thousands of dollars to support uninsured and underinsured cancer patients
through their participation in the charity auction.
Bra Couture庐 KC began its annual auctions in 2010, and this year raised more than $500,000 in
donations for individuals in the Kansas City area who are struggling to pay expenses
associated with their illness. The organization strives to provide life-empowering
services to those in need throughout the metropolitan area in partnership with the
University of Kansas Cancer Center. Through the generosity of individuals who attend
the annual fashion show and auction, the program sponsores are able to provide items
such as wigs, compression sleeves and prosthetics, which are sometimes not covered
by insurance. This is in addition to making possible funds for gas, food and rent
for people who have cancer and lose work due to this serious health condition. Bra
Couture庐 took place on April 21 at the Kansas City Downtown Airport, and was the organizations鈥
largest fundraiser of the year.
For the past 10 consecutive years, UCM鈥檚 Fashion and Apparel Merchandising program
and students and faculty in the Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education programs
have participated in the event by creating and submitting entries that are sold during
the auction. For the first time since becoming involved in the program, UCM participants
created a university-themed bra, in addition to other items that appeared on the runway.
Angela Gai Gilbert, a Mathematics faculty member at UCM and former Warrensburg resident
who now resides in Lee鈥檚 Summit, modeled the UCM bra ensemble while being escorted
by Mo the Mule, the university鈥檚 mascot. The bra and jacket worn by Gilbert was created
by Fashion students Esthela Garcia, junior from Kansas City, Kansas, and Nikaylah
Gadson, sophomore from Blue Springs, along with Associate Professor and Program Coordinator
Melissa Abner. The team worked together and members individually placed stones and
studs to create university logos while also incorporating into their design fabrics
from the UCM Fashion Shop. This sparkling garment along with a donated package sold
for $7,000 at the auction.
Lindsey Dobson, a junior Fashion student from Pleasant Hill, also created a bra that
appeared on the runway. Her leather bra and cape featured hand-drawn and jeweled flames,
along with a bike chain necklace and gear head piece, a creation that dazzled the
audience while worn by a motorcycle enthusiast. In order to get her design to the
Bra Couture庐 stage, Dobson submitted sketches and her entry was chosen from a group of many other
submissions, including those from professional designers in the merto area.
While Abner has consistently led student teams to Bra Couture庐 KC, this year鈥檚 event offered a first-time opportunity for her to add a hands-on
touch to the an entry as part of the group that sumitted the UCM-themed design.
鈥淚 have personally mentored student designs, but never helped design myself. Having
something on the runway that I actually helped conceive and create was really cool,鈥
Abner said. 鈥淚 tend to let the students create while I assist, but this made me want
to design more myself again.鈥
Abner said one of the most rewarding aspects of this experience came from meeting
Gilbert. The UCM team formed a friendship with her while developing a creation that
they hoped would make her "feel and look amazing鈥 as a design model.
鈥淎s always, my favorite part is seeing students watch their work on the runway 鈥 their
faces just light up and it is the best feeling,鈥 Abner added. 鈥淚t was also fun to
see Angela absolutely shine and rock the runway with Mo in her outfit that we made.
She did an amazing job.鈥
Abner said members of the campus design team were given VIP tickets to the event,
which also made it possible to meet some of the players and staff within the Chiefs
football and Royals baseball organizations who attended and support this program.
鈥淭he student designers also brought family members and got to experience the event
with them. Many of them had not been to an event like this before, so it was very
nice of the Bra Couture board to offer that experience,鈥 Abner said. 鈥淚t is one that
none of us will forget.鈥
Bra Couture庐 KC has served more than 12,000 cancer patients since its inception, thanks to the
generosity of individuals who have contributed more than $3 million in support through
events such as the one in which UCM annually participates. Learn more about Bra CoutureKC庐
by visiting its .
UCM鈥檚 Fashion and Apparel Merchandising program is accredited by the American Association
of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). More information about opportunities for
students is available on the program's website or by contacting Abner at mabner@ucmo.edu or 660-543-8724. Learn m ore about the Bachelor of Science in Education 鈥 Family
and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education program online or by contacting Krystle Gremaud, assistant instructor, at 660-543-4647 or kgremaud@ucmo.edu.
欧美视频 Fashion and Apparel Merchandising students, from left,
Lindsey Dobson, a junior from Pleasant Hill, and Esthela Garcia, junior from Kansas
City, Kansas, contributed their design skills to creations that help support 2023
Bra Couture庐 KC.