Harry Thomason -- he of Arkansas-bred producer-director fame with TV shows including Designing Women and Evening Shade and films including The Last Ride -- has now ventured a bit into the fashion world.
As a speaker at a fashion-related event, at least.
Thomason addressed the newly minted alumni of Arkansas Fashion School at A Leading Edge, an Emerging Designers Graduation Event, held Aug. 12 at Chenal Country Club. The dinner and fashion show was also the school's 10-year anniversary.
The evening's highlight was a fashion show featuring three designs each from graduates Sofia Caballero Gutierrez, Devin Johnson, Amanda Morley, Callie Rew, Natalie Rece, Hiep Thai and Carah Vowell.
Guests first took in silent-auction items and the exhibit of graduates' designs, as well as a timeline exhibit of the life and career of designer and fashion-school founder Jamileh Kamran. The post-dinner program featured remarks by former Little Rock Mayor Jim Dailey.
Thomason said his "perfectly prepared" speech was, unfortunately, "riding round in a taxicab on an iPad somewhere in Los Angeles." So he winged it, referencing a few other Arkansas TV-film success stories before relating a humorous anecdote about his own transition from high-school coaching. "If you're from Arkansas, and you study under somebody like Jamileh, then you've got the will to succeed," he told the graduates.
Alumnae Abby Alba and Emily Alsop gave testimonies of their Fashion School experiences. KTHV news anchor Craig O'Neill, who'd made opening remarks, returned to conduct a live auction whose highlight was a painting by artist Maryam Moeeni.
Proceeds from the auctions and on-site donations will be used for the Leading Edge subsidy fund for four eligible fashion school students.
-- Story and photos by Helaine R. Williams
High Profile on 08/20/2017