UC Davis Women's Cardiovascular Medicine Program Red Dress Collection 2014

Designer’s statement: I created this red dress to make a tribute to the 5th anniversary of the collaboration between the UC Davis Women’s Cardiovascular Medicine Program and the Department of Design to raise awareness of heart disease as the No. 1 killer in the United States, and to focus on prevention. A human heart is a chamber of life and a symbol of love. Design is a special kind of love. In the past five years, the young designers at UC Davis unfolded their passion to campaign for heart health and healthy lifestyle by creating their red dresses, echoing the red dress as a national symbol for increasing awareness of heart disease in women. Geared up by their enthusiasm, an idea to engage the love from human heart through a special red dress became reality. I created this dress by up-cycling the fabric swatches from students’ red dress projects to enhance a visual and emotional connection to their designs. Two shades of red in four sections mimic the chambers of a human heart. The surface treatments with darts and rhinestones exhibit the complex of a human heart, inside and outside. Without a precise sketch, the passage of creating this dress is a joy of rebirth of a human heart when the fabric in different shapes and sizes navigated me through the adventure. I claim this dress as incomplete because there is no stop sign in design journeys, so does the force of human heart – it is infinity.

Designer’s statement: I made this red dress for all innovative and modern young women. It was inspired by the sophisticated architecture that surrounds us, including the surface textures, balconies and details in the windows. The arches in buildings inspired me to reflect elegance with a touch of playfulness and fierceness into my design. The dress has a very classic silhouette with details that represent the architectural aspects of our cities. It defines a young women who has been living a healthy and fun life. My dress was also intended to raise awareness of women’s heart health. Our hearts represent love, and love is one of the most valuable feelings that we can experience.

Designer’s statement: Red wine, in moderation, can mitigate against atherosclerosis, a condition in which fatty plaque builds up in vessels that carry blood to the heart. Both the color and flow of red wine inspired my gown, which I hope will inspire awareness of the health benefits of red wine. The draped hip panels represent the fluidity of wine, as well as the circulation of blood in the heart. When visiting the most recognized wine museum in Bordeaux, France, I was inspired by the beautiful colors of the wine — muted champagne, blushing rose and deep, crimson red. I chose a rich maroon color to mimic the rich red wines of Bordeaux. It is my hope that this dress can represent the message that moderation and healthful food and beverage choices are important to preventing cardiovascular disease.

Designer’s statement: When sketching my red dress design, I thought about the message I wanted to send down the runway. I thought about all the women in my life who have blown me away with the enormity of their hearts. These women taught me that an open heart is a joyous heart, and they reflect that happiness in all that they do. These women -- my grandmothers, mother, aunts and mentors -- are all role models, and I wanted my dress to represent their way of life. My dress is named “Cindy” in honor of my mother’s twin, who passed away two years ago. Cindy is a perfect example of the type of woman I just described. Fun, light and lively, this dress is a direct reflection of Cindy herself. The exposed sections in front and back symbolize the most important lesson she taught me: be open and vulnerable to others, and you will live a full existence. Cindy was taken away too soon, but she touched so many people during her time here, and I know she lived a life full of love. My design represents the heart of life and my hope is that it inspires others to be open and loving.

Designer’s statement: When I see the color red, I feel power and passion. The theme of my dress is “Life In-Pulse,” because the heart essentially is the organ that sustains life. When I think of the heart, I hear the pulse and feel the movement. I wanted to imitate this musical and lively feeling with my dress, so I used loud reds and distressed fabrics. Inspired by the anatomy of the heart, I created this dress in an asymmetrical silhouette with unique materials. The idea of the heart is simple, but its actual functioning is complex. I tried to reveal this combination of complexity and simplicity with “Life In-Pulse.”

Designer’s statement: My red dress was inspired by the ancient Greeks and their development of what we know today as modern medicine. Specifically, I wanted to name my dress “The Heart Oath” as a direct reference to Hippocrates, the Grecian father of modern medicine, and one of the most important figures in medicine to this day. He developed the Hippocratic Oath to uphold ethical standards in the practice of medicine. Hippocrates was the first to believe that diseases were caused naturally, and not because of superstitions. The development of heart disease, especially in women, is very prevalent in our society today, and awareness of this condition needs to be more widespread. My design features details taken from Grecian clothing and includes many lines referencing the complexities of the heart and its vulnerability.

Designer’s statement: My dress is inspired by all of the women who have heart disease and are standing strong. This mermaid style dress is separated into two parts. The top is constructed using bright red fabric and represents a healthy blood flow. Hand-made arteries are sewn around the top and stand for healthy arteries inside the body. The bottom is covered in a rough texture made of fabric strips, which symbolize atherosclerosis. I wanted to create a garment that celebrates the healthy body conquering heart disease, so the bottom of the dress serves as a pedestal on which the healthy heart stands. My hope is that this dress will speak to women who have battled heart disease and show them how beautiful they are for their strength. For those who have not experienced heart disease, I hope that this garment will inspire them to care of their hearts. My dress may only be made up of fabric and thread, but it celebrates what all women are: “Beautifully Strong.”

Designer’s statement: Heart disease can be a big challenge in a woman’s life, and while it might be difficult to overcome all of the obstacles, it is possible. In facing the challenge, there is a chance to jump start life and begin anew with prevention. My red dress represents the mighty phoenix, and my dress is for every woman who is facing or has faced heart disease. The mythological phoenix bird begins and ends its life in fire. It represents power and rebirth. Like a phoenix rising above the burning flames of its past life, this dress has “fiery wings” on the shoulders and back, and the hem is like a flaming tail of feathers. I want my dress to inspire every woman to be strong and rise above difficult times. I want to inspire women to be able to fly high and feel free and beautiful.

Designer’s statement: I wanted my dress to point toward the positive aspects of heart health. I wanted to invoke the joy of life and celebration, because merriment is one of the supreme reasons to be healthy. I wanted to commemorate my family spirit, and I was drawn to my own family’s parties as a reference. I was inspired by 1960s cocktail dresses from parties thrown by my grandparents, one of whom recovered from a heart attack years ago. My dress was also inspired by red wine, because it has resveratrol which in moderation can be antioxidant, and I like how it curls on itself in the glass when it flows. Putting all these themes together I created “A Toast to Heart Health.”