A future in fashion

Elizabeth Niedringhaus, entertainment editor| October 18, 2022

Ella Sottile

Anna McGinnis, junior, alters the dress she designed on a mannequin.

Countless fabrics, sewing machines and mannequins adorn the studio above her grandparents garage. Fake vines hang from the ceiling and racks of clothes cover the walls. For Anna McGinnis, junior, this is her happy place.

McGinnis has made outfits for many different concerts, runway shows and even for people in Africa. McGinnis started sewing at 6-years old when one of her friends introduced her to it through classes. Even though her friend stopped going to classes McGinnis continued to go. 

  “I really liked the creative outlet,” McGinnis said. “Being able to express myself and the ideas in my head and them coming to life are why I love fashion and sewing.” 

McGinnis has been volunteering for The Collective Thread [TCT] for almost two years. TCT is a non-profit in downtown St. Louis that provides services to apparel brands and to those in need. She does anything from winding bobbins to sewing samples for customer products. They asked her to show two pieces in a sustainability runway show last May. For this mini collection, McGinnis got her supplies from Goodwill and repurposed them. 

“I really like being able to see my pieces come down the runway,” McGinnis said. “It gives you that designer feeling.”

McGinnis plans on turning fashion into a career. McGinnis did a pre-college program at Fashion Institute of Technology [FIT] in New York. While at this program McGinnis was able to sketch up a collection. However, McGinnis said that she is more interested in the Savannah College of Art and Design [SCAD] over FIT. She said the school feels like a better fit and that being around different art and design majors would inspire her. 

While McGinnis has taken many sewing classes outside of school, she has also taken the KHS fashion construction and design courses. Amanda Roberts, family and consumer sciences [FACS] teacher, said McGinnis has grown over the past three years.

“Anna started with more knowledge than any student I have ever had,” Roberts said. “I have actually learned a lot from her. She has a lot of drive and is able to troubleshoot ahead of time around difficult pieces.” 

McGinnis’ love for fashion and sewing has overflowed onto the people around her. Danny O’Leary, junior, became good friends with her and has been able to watch her sewing evolve. 

“There is just something about her that is so cool,” O’Leary said. “She dresses [so well] and she has made me more fashionably awareI have sat with her while she works and she pays attention to every single detail.” 

McGinnis said she tends to use textiles when making her pieces. However, McGinnis made a dress almost completely out of paper. This is featured in the KHS library for students and staff to see.

“Dr. (Molly) Stephenson, who retired last year, had a ton of calendars. So I took them and made a paper dress that I am really proud of,” McGinnis said. “Right now, I am working on a seven or eight-piece collection for a fashion show that is going to be in December.” 

She regularly updates her different social media accounts, allowing anyone to watch her journey. To follow along you can find Anna 

“I love seeing her in action,” O’Leary said. “It gives me an adrenaline rush just seeing what she can do. I have never met someone so talented and so inclined [to fashion] like [Anna] is.”