The models and outfits that were part of the fashion show. (Submitted photo/Dene High School)

By Derek Cornet

identity

Grade 12 La Loche student hosts fashion show as special credit

May 31, 2024 | 2:24 PM

An upcoming graduate from La Loche’s Dene High School showed his love for fashion with a special show last week.

Grade 12 student Marken Laprise organized a fashion show as part of a special credit class. He’s interested in launching his own fashion line someday and he took the opportunity to showcase some designs.

The event occurred May 23 at the Dene High School gymnasium.

“It went really great. That day we had a bunch of people sitting there waiting for the show to happen. It just went so smoothly,” Laprise said.

“It felt really great because I had events before and I had a great turnout too. It just makes me feel awesome to know people in my community support me in what I do.”

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The fashion show was emceed by Jazz Gailey, while teachers like Brock Hevenor took care of sound and lighting. Laprise did the rest of the coordination like sourcing for models, creating the invitation, designing all the clothes and sewing all the fabric, as well as planning the logistics.

Work on the fashion show began in October 2023 and Laprise estimates he spent more than 100 hours putting it all together.

“I made everything except for some clothing to style with the outfits I made,” he said.

Laprise, who has been a self-made drag artiste since he was 13, explained he draws inspiration from vintage dolls, along with his own creative mindset. He has created and performed as Alexi Heights in various events and scenarios.

Through the fashion show, Laprise learned time and project management, event organizing, and he was able to hone his own artistic skills at sewing and designing, as well as incorporating Indigenous influences and teachings into fashion.

After his high school graduation in June, Laprise plans on moving to Saskatoon to pursue a career in fashion and drag. He said his time at Dene High School has been positive.

“It’s important to me because it is my queer expression,” Laprise said.

“I get to do a bunch of creative things through drag and I get to perform and entertain people at the same time, and that’s something that I always enjoyed. I’ve been to school in drag multiple times and I’ve been supported through students, teachers and community members.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com