Magnolia Recognizes New Fashion Board Members By Fawn Roark Three seniors at Ashe County High School have been chosen for the Magnolia Fashion Board and they will be learning all about the retail business world. Brandi Marlow, Margret Gardner and Kayla Furches have recently started their role as the advisory board and have already attended the Atlanta Apparel Mart to choose prom gowns. Ashe County High School seniors Brandi Marlow, from left, Margret Gardner and Kayla Furches were in Atlanta recently choosing prom gowns as part of their duties on the Magnolia Fashion Board. The Magnolia Fashion Board is a joint educational program focusing on the retail industry with Owner Angelia Cambre of Magnolia (formerly of Uptown Threads) and Ashe County High School. The board is made up of three members and three alternates, each of which is a senior who is interested in merchandising or some aspect of the retail business world. Members are to gain hands-on experience in the areas of marketing, advertising, purchasing, human-relations, bookkeeping and merchandising. “The nomination and selection process that you have gone through makes this a true honor. Your name was submitted by several faculty members at ACHS who make up the fashion board nominating committee based on your character traits, work ethic, fashion sense, leadership and other positive attributes,” the 2005-06 Magnolia Fashion Board Overview and Agreement explains. Each member gains hands-on experience in the areas of marketing, advertising, purchasing, human relations, bookkeeping and product display. In addition, at the end of the school year, each of the three Fashion Board members are rewarded with a monetary scholarship to be used toward educational expenses whether attending a two-year or four-year program. A formal wear survey to be used as a buying tool for market was to be created by the board that will be filled out by the junior and senior girls at Ashe County High School. The board attended the Atlanta Apparel Mart in Atlanta, Ga. at the end of August as store buyers and worked together in choosing and purchasing formal gowns and accessories for the prom, military ball and other formal occasions for the school year. In December when the prom gowns begin to arrive, the Fashion Board members as a team are to process the new merchandise. This involves checking orders making sure everything corresponds to the original orders, steaming and pressing the gowns, and pricing and displaying. The board members will also work together to create the prom window display in January. During prom week, board members will assist in the store with tuxedo fittings and alterations. The Magnolia Fashion Board members will also be organizing a fashion show at Ashe County High School to be held in late January or in February. This involves coordinating and scheduling the facilities with the school, choosing the fashions and models, selecting music for the show, setting up the show, doing the stage decorations, preparing handouts, advertising, door prizes and clean up after the show. All board decisions are subject to final approval by the three advisors and the creators of the Fashion Board - Angelia Cambre, owner of Magnolia, as well as Elaine Hodges, Family and Consumer Science teacher at Ashe County High School.