“Proudly Made in the USA – Shoe and Bags” Exhibit

The Donald B. Palmer Museum of the Springfield Free Public Library
is pleased to be hosting “Proudly Made in the USA – Shoe and Bags,”  an exhibit of handbags and shoes designed and
created under the tutelage of fashion accessories designer, educator and
Springfield resident Jennifer Siletski. 
Ms. Siletski’s students, who range in age from 11 to adult, have participated
in classes at the New Jersey School of Fashion Design and Accessories (NJSFDA)
and New York Fashion Accessories Camp (NYFAC), launched last summer in NYC’s
Fashion District.    The show will run
from January 7 through February 6.

            At Ms. Siletski’s
schools, students and “campers” study and build handbags and shoes from initial
design sketches and then work through every stage of the fabrication process to
create a finished product under the guidance of industry professionals and
master craftsmen.  Her students have
experienced firsthand the workings of the fashion industry through educational
field trips to notable design houses, fashion museums, factories and suppliers.

            Although most of
the items on display are the work of students in high school or college, at least
one middle school student and two adults are among the mix of those having
their creations exhibited.  The majority
of Ms. Siletski’s students are from Union and Essex counties but others come
from as far away as Philadelphia, Deal and northwestern Morris County.   Students whose work is on exhibit include:
Carly Bayroff, Candice Charles, Morgan Collins, Casey Hersh, Alaina Jennings,
Jordan Langs, Hannah Liben, Brielle McCormick, Chloe Mandala, Holly Mandala,
Julia Pallone, Maddy Ritholz, Lauren Rummel, Barbara Saka, Brenda Saka, Kara
Smith, Grace Thomas, and Annette Wilcox.

            Ms. Siletski
received her training at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Parsons:
The New School, Art Students League and New York Academy of Art.  She holds a BA in Fine Arts and AAS in
Textile Design from FIT.  She founded the
New Jersey School of Fashion Design and Accessories (NJSFDA) in 1998 to share
her passion for handbag design.   More
information about Ms. Siletski’s summer program can be found at www.nyfashionaccessoriescamp.com

            The Donald B.
Palmer Museum is located inside the Springfield Free Public Library at 66
Mountain Avenue.  Hours of the exhibit
are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM; Tuesday, Friday
and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:30 PM.  More information about the Springfield Free
Public Library can be found at www.springfieldpubliclibrary.com, by visiting the library’s Facebook page or by calling 973
376-4930 during regular library hours.