Designing with Purpose

MOVE! Inclusive Dance Studio Collaboration

This project captures one of the most meaningful collaborations of my junior year in the Fashion Design program at Belmont University, a partnership between our Junior Fashion Design class and Nashville’s MOVE! Inclusive Dance Studio during the Fall 2025 semester. We were honored to design and create custom dancewear for the studio’s special needs dancers for their fall rehearsal performance, with each student receiving an individualized costume tailored to their movement needs, personality, and performance theme.

I had the privilege of designing for Owen, a clever, energetic young dancer whose group performed a Monopoly-themed routine. The visual direction for his costume drew directly from the game board’s iconic property colors, paired with silver accents inspired by the player tokens. The capes incorporated imagery of the game pieces applied using heat transfer vinyl, while the lining featured a custom Monopoly money print that we created in Adobe Illustrator. Even the music selection, “Money, Money, Money” from the 1972 film Cabaret, set in 1931, helped shape the theatrical spirit of the design.

For the bottoms, I chose a harem pant silhouette as both a functional and historical reference. The style nods to designer Paul Poiret, who popularized the silhouette in the early 1900s, as well as to MC Hammer, whose dynamic performances brought the look back into mainstream culture during the 1980s and 1990s. The fluid volume of the pants created dramatic movement onstage while allowing Owen complete freedom to dance. As MC Hammer once said, "the magic is in the movement. You move, and then the pants move."

Designing the top required equal intention. I prioritized breathability, comfort, and ease of movement to ensure Owen could perform confidently and comfortably. The simplicity of the tank-style silhouette balances the drama of the pants, while diagonal style lines and fabric contrast add eye-catching interest that catches the stage light beautifully. Every detail was considered with movement, comfort, and confidence in mind.

The dancers delivered truly wonderful performances after months of dedication, patience, and hard work. Seeing the costumes come to life through their movement was an incredibly rewarding experience. I am deeply grateful to the students, families, and the exceptional team at MOVE! Inclusive Dance Studio for welcoming us into their community and trusting us to create designs that celebrated each dancer’s individuality.

This project was a powerful reminder of why I love to design and create. Fashion has the ability to empower, include, and tell stories. When created with intention, it becomes more than clothing. It becomes a form of communication, confidence, and joy.

If you enjoyed these photo's, be sure to visit my portfolio to check out the full collection of project photos and see fittings, sketches, patterning, and other behind the scene processess! Thanks for looking! :)