High School

Krystal L., clothing inspired by the studentʼs personal aesthetics and traditional Hmong fashion.

The Essential Questions
Why do artists follow or break from established traditions?

Objective
Students will explore cultural fashion motifs with a contemporary twist.

Materials
assorted fabrics, denim, colored pencils, paper, scissors, adhesive, pencils, erasers, sketchbooks, paper

Procedures
1. Engage students in discussions about equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
2. Students can explore the concepts of identity and belonging through writing and self-reflection before sharing their experiences in small group discussions.
3. In their sketchbooks, students should analyze, describe, and deconstruct their own traditional and cultural motifs primarily used in fashion, such as color, shapes, repetition, and ornamental elements.
4. Students create conceptual drawings that interpret and redefine their idea of modern fashion by juxtaposing traditional and cultural motifs with personal aesthetics. Students reflect on their identity, culture, traditions, and sense of place to create an article of clothing that they could wear on any occasion.
5. Students should present multiple sketches to the teacher before finalizing their design.
6. Using assorted fabrics and other necessary materials, students will create a two-dimensional mixed-media work.

Assessment
Students will engage in individual and small group critiques.

Frank Juárez is an art teacher at Sheboygan North High School in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and the editor-in-chief of SchoolArts magazine.