Reiman Gardens collaborated with the apparel, merchandising and design program to have costumes made for its Halloween-centered event, Spirits in the Gardens, for the second time in history. 

AMD 328 design seminar is a half-semester elective class. This year, the class of seven students were assigned to make costumes for Spirits in the Gardens. The event will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 25 and 26 at Reiman Gardens.

Sharon Wirth and Brenda Ackerman are the instructors for the course. The class is targeted toward juniors and seniors, they said, because students need to have some construction and pattern experience.

The theme for this year’s event is alien and science fiction. Students were given $220 to buy everything they needed. The only requirements were to create something that fit the theme and to make sure it was kid-friendly. 

Hayley Hays, senior in apparel, merchandising and design, signed up for AMD 328 because she is interested in pursing a career in costuming.

“When we first met with [Spirits in the Gardens staff], they had a PowerPoint full of all the plant and insect sculptures that will be there,” Hays said. “So they encouraged us to use those as inspirations.”

Hays said her costume design is inspired by the praying mantis.

Jorden Charron, junior in apparel, merchandising and design, heard about the class from her roommate.

“I knew this class would be a great portfolio builder, and it is something different,” Charron said. “I haven’t really taken a construction class, so I thought it would be good to practice my sewing skills and step outside my box.”

Charron said her design is inspired by different scale textures.

“At first I sketched a snake-like creature,” Charron said. “Then as I went on, I got more inspired by the textures and the scale shapes I was using, but I knew I wanted to soften it to make it more kid friendly.”

All of the designers were responsible for finding a model to show off their costume during the event. 

“This is wonderful opportunity for our students to be able to work with a client directly and to be working within a specific budget and theme,” Wirth said. “We think it is a really good collaboration for Reiman garden and for ourselves.”