Paseo Academy, or… Project Runway?

Who goes to a high school to shop? You might, now that the Costume and Design students at the Paseo Academy of Fine & Performing Arts are opening their own store.

The shop, called Urban Edge, is housed in a previously vacant classroom and is still under construction. Students from Manual Career Tech came in to do the carpentry, erecting a dressing room in one corner and shelving on the walls. Mannequins Tonya and Thomas will soon be outfitted in clothes made by students in Pam Lucas‘ Costume and Design class.

Lucas buzzes around her sun-streaked classroom, showing off the designs that her students will soon usher down the runway at a dinner and fashion show on Friday, March 12, in Paseo’s cafeteria. The fashion show marks the grand opening of Urban Edge. “These kids are in love with bubble skirts, even though bubble skirts are pretty much out,” Lucas says cheerfully, pinching a piece of electric-pink satin on a hanger. “And tutus. We have six or seven tutus in the show. But that’s fine. We can have seven tutus.”