Product Runway  was organized by AIARochester and IIDA, professional architects and interior design organizations here in Rochester.

Team: SWBR, with Sponsors ARC-com and Nancy Gong, Gong Glass Works

Hard (Building materials) and soft material (interior materials) sponsors: Nancy Gong, Gong Glass Works and ARCcom

The garment was to be made of a combination of 80% of the hard and soft materials.

Each garment was to be inspired by a landmark or notable building in Rochester. The building was assigned to each team by the organizers.

Gong’s Team building was The Lamberton Conservatory.The team’s design is inspired by the architecture, the exterior as well as what is housed inside; exotic flowers and cactus.

Glass details are in the headwear, cuff, bodice were made of kiln formed glass and skirt used microscopic lenses for the window panes.

5-6 members of the teams worked on making the kiln formed glass flowers that were made flat first, then shaped.

The many flowers on the leggings were made of upholstery material.

The whole team was working in a new zone. They started working on this in June!   A  Rochester Fashion Show in October. was their deadline  “The creativity was wild” Gong said.

Gong’s  garment was awarded Best in Craftsmanship by AIA Rochester and IIDA jurors.

In all, 9 garments were designed by AIARochester and IIDA teams. The design renderings, materials selections and  ALL garments are on exhibit in the lobby of the Metropolitan on Clinton Avenue Lobby  through December 3rd.   Thereafter, the GONG TEAM Design will be on location at Panache Vintage & Finer Consignment at the Winter Market Pop-Up Event. December 9 & 10 and again on December 16 & 17 for the duration of December thereafter.

 

Living Life with Style & Flair…with Panache!

Joan E. Lincoln

A mother of 3 beautiful daughters, Joan hails from the Finger Lakes area. A Rochesterian for the past 36 years, Joan has come from in front of the camera lens to behind the scenes and ‘painted’  Upstate N.Y. woman more beautiful for more than a decade. Working for NYC-industry giant Trish McEvoy Cosmetics, Joan became a sought-after makeup artist in the region over the past 20 years. Semi-retired from the makeup industry presently, has allowed her to focus on becoming an entrepreneur, and launch 3 small businesses. Her accomplishments have always focused on female-based retail, marketing and event planning careers.