Combining creativity and learning, Talita Dornelles dos Santos, a Fashion student, changes theory into practice by developing her own creation for her wedding.

Realizing the dream of a perfect wedding is the desire of many couples. Talita Dornelles dos Santos, a student in the Fashion course at Feevale University, this dream is being sewn, literally, inside the Institution's Fashion Lab. With dedication, research, and a lot of love, Talita decided to make her own wedding dress, transforming the project into a unique learning experience and personal significance. "The idea of making my own wedding dress came about very naturally. I've always liked to put a personal touch on the clothes I wear to events, so my wedding wouldn't be any different. I thought, “Why not try making my own dress?” says Talita.

Even without much experience in sewing, the student decided to take on the challenge. She explains that this is the first time she has made such an elaborate dress, although she has participated in projects and competitions in the field of Fashion. “Before, I was more involved in the design and material selection part. Now, sewing, it's the first time I'm getting my hands dirty like this,” she comments. A fairy tale with an authorial touch. The main inspiration for the dress comes from Princess Cinderella, but Talita emphasizes that it is not a literal reproduction. “We wanted something that captured the essence of the fairy tale, with shine, volume and delicacy, but without losing the personal touch,” she explains. Among the choices that make the model unique is the color: the dress will be pink, a shade that reflects the bride's personality. For the making, she is applying what she learned in class and complementing it with her own research. “I didn't use very expensive materials, I looked for affordable fabrics, within my reality, and I am very happy with

the result,” she says. According to her, the process has also been an exercise of self-confidence and professional development.

“At the beginning of the course, I never imagined I would be able to sew a wedding dress. I always had more of an affinity for styling and costume design, not so much for pattern making and sewing. But this project showed me that I can, indeed, produce a complete piece if necessary.” To realize her dream, Talita had the support of her colleague Julia Benchaya, also a Fashion student. The two carried out all the pattern making together dividing the sewing stages. “Julia has been my fairy godmother. Some more complex parts, such as the puff sleeves, were a challenge in themselves, but they have been a great opportunity to apply in practice what we have learned at the University,” comments Talita. The Feevale Fashion Laboratory has been an essential space in this process, offering professional structure and equipment that allow students to explore their skills in creating and executing garments.

Talita's fiancé, Eduardo Seibert Link, is also part of the Feevale academic community. He is a 4th-semester student of Graphic Design and is contributing creatively to the project. Link is responsible for the entire visual identity of the wedding, from the invitations to the graphic details of the ceremony. "Since our engagement, Talita and I have set a clear goal: to have a unique celebration. We wanted a wedding that was so much like us that it would be impossible to be another one like it," says Link. "That's why we took on the challenge of putting our personal touch on every detail. Talita, who comes from the Fashion field, got her hands dirty by producing her own dress. I, with my background in Graphic Design, created the entire visual identity of our union, culminating in our most ambitious project: an exclusive magazine about the wedding." According to Eduardo, the project has also been a practical opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired in subjects such as Visual Language and Graphic Creation and Production, combining emotion and learning in the same purpose. For Talita, the dress goes far beyond the garment itself. It symbolizes her academic, personal, and emotional journey, reflecting how much she has grown as a student and as a professional. “Wearing a dress that I made myself on such an important day means a lot. It’s the realization of a dream and a way to show my evolution. It’s beautiful to see my family proud and understanding more about what I do and how much this process means to me,” she says. Entering Feevale in 2022, Talita never imagined that, a few years later, she would be making her own wedding dress inside the University. She recognizes the value of this experience: “Making my dress here, with the support of colleagues and professors, is something I will carry with me forever. It’s the perfect closing of one cycle, and the beginning of another even more special one,” she concludes.