Maceo Pray, almost 4, made his modeling debut at a kids fashion show at RPI at the end of February. His mother, Katie Pray, is an aspiring fashion designer that created children’s clothing for the show, his outfit being an ’80s inspired all white linen suit. This Friday, May 21, Maceo is hoping he can model for a second time at Electric City Couture Fashion Show at Proctor’s in Schenectady.
He knew this was an adult fashion show but still asked if he could be in it, said Pray. `If I have time, I’ll bust out a little shirt and pants for him to make a guest appearance in at the end of the show. He likes to break dance and wants to totally do a little version of it. It’s so cute.`
Break dancing and fashion might not seem to go hand-in-hand, but that’s what this particular fashion show is all about`celebrating the art form of fashion. Pray said she didn’t want it to be typical with models strutting down a runway. So, she decided to funnel her passion for hip hop dance into both her designs and the show.
`I wanted some element of performance so I’ve tried to make it so the audience feels like they’re looking in at a scene from a club and not necessarily watching a fashion show. There will be old school checkered flooring for a dance club feel, high tables to set drinks on and a mini skit going on,` said Pray.
Pray took break dance classes in November and loved it so much she recruited some people from her class to dance in the show. She has 10 models, three of which will break dance and all of whom will be decked out in `street style` clothing.
`It’s like clothes you’d where out but not fancy,` said Pray, who has been sending swatches of fabric down to her friend, `Blanco,` in New York City who will be doing stencil graffiti on some shirts and skirts.
The artwork is `street-y` with a funky feel, said Pray, and the color scheme is a lot of gray, black, blue and purple, with a little green. She said she gets a lot of inspiration from people watching, where she gets to see people try different clothing combos and outfits she might not have thought to pair together.
Pray didn’t always want to be a fashion designer, but she said she seems to have had a distinct fashion sense forever.
`When I was in kindergarten, I wouldn’t get on the bus because I refused to wear my Strawberry Shortcake pants. My mom made me walk to school because I missed the bus,` said Pray. `Then my sister got me a sewing machine for a bridal shower present and I started making stuff, like little bags for birthdays.`
Pray said she started sketching patterns on paper and didn’t even realize she could take patternmaking classes until people started suggesting it.
`The next week I was sliding my credit card and taking the class. Even then, I honestly never said I wanted to be a fashion designer, I was just learning something new that was interesting to me and it kind of snowballed and became more like something I can actually do,` said Pray, who took fashion classes at night and taught saxophone during the day.
Pray’s already won `Project Larkway` and was commissioned to make her first wedding dress. Her next goal is to start selling her clothing, because up until now, she’s been making pieces specifically for the person wearing it and not using a sizing system.
`I’d like to start making money instead of spending money. I’m at that point where I need to either go back and teach again or make this happen, and if I don’t try I’ll never know and I would die unhappy not knowing,` said Pray.
The push to officially launch a clothing line to be sold has come since friends started introducing Pray as a fashion designer, which she said makes her laugh because she thinks of herself as a mom and music teacher who happens to like making clothes.
`I’m trying to get used to that [new label]. Every time I do a show people ask where they can buy the clothes and I have to say they’re not for sale. Next time someone asks me, I want to say ‘here,’` said Pray. `It’s the thrill of seeing people wear your clothes and I don’t have to be a famous designer, I just want someone to enjoy wearing something I made.`
Her biggest support is her husband, Keith Pray, a well-known saxophonist in the region’s jazz scene.
`I could say I wanted to be an alpaca farmer and he’d be all for it. He supports whatever I do but I’m sure if I started making money he’d like the idea a little more,` said Pray. `He puts up with the piles of fabric everywhere and needles in our feet and the carpet.`
Art Night at Proctor’s starts at 7 p.m. and features some dance performances in addition to the fashion show.
Proceeds from the show will go towards a scholarship for a high school class to create fashion designs for next year’s show.
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