Humber’s fashion arts and business students partnered with culinary students to host their first Gothic Renaissance High Tea event on Dec. 5.
The two-hour, formal gothic affair featured music and a fashion show that included high tea with chocolates and baked goods prepared by the culinary team. Mannequins dressed in attire made with chocolate and accessories added to the flair of the event,
Attendees were able to network with the many fashion industry leaders and influencers who were there.
Monday’s gothic renaissance high tea was sponsored by the Longo Faculty of Business at Humber College, Shoppers Drug Mart, Fashion Group International — a global non-profit organization based in New York City — and Plato’s Closet — a chain of thrift shops across North America.
Event-goers walked away with a chocolate tower, various teas and sweets and a gift bag with skincare products.
Kenneth Ku, a chef and instructor in the baking and pastry arts program, worked hard to ensure a high-quality event.
“It was a big challenge considering the number of students that I have, but they are dedicated and passionate and it was a great opportunity for experiential learning so, in the end, it all worked out,” he said.
Danielle Fernandes, a student in the baking and pastry arts management program, said the event was exciting because she and her classmates hadn’t worked with that much chocolate before.
“It was really interesting, there are a lot of fun things you learn about chocolate that you wouldn’t have thought about before,” she said.
Jennifer Reitano, the program coordinator with Humber’s fashion arts and business program, said this was a collaborative effort. Students in the culinary program came up with the idea for a high tea and the gothic renaissance theme was hatched by students in the fashion program.
“The students came up with all the styling for the mannequins and we leave the magic of the chocolate-making with the baking and pastry students,” she said.
Amy Gallant, a student in the fashion arts and business program, said the event was “so chaotic in the best way,” and that it’s been exciting to see how far along everything has come from beginning to end.
“From deciding from the theme itself and making our dreams into a vision, it’s incredible to stand before things that were [once] sketches and vague ideas,” she said.
Organizers said the sold-out show was a huge success and they were pleased that there wasn’t an empty seat in the Barrett Centre for Technology and Innovation room at Humber College’s North campus.