Incoming Shippensburg University freshman and recent Dauphin County Technical School graduate, Jordanah “Jordi” Wells, recently participated in the Duck Brand’s annual Stuck at Prom scholarship contest.
“I designed a saree – it was an original creation of mine from back in ninth grade,” said Wells.
A saree (also known as a sari) is a traditional garment worn by women throughout South Asia, consisting of a long unstitched piece of fabric that drapes across the body.
The dress was designed using muslin fabric as the base, followed by 14 rolls of duct tape. Wells felt motivated to design a saree for the competition as a way to pay homage to her familial roots in Nepal, and encouragement from close friends motivated her even further.
In addition to creating an intricate and traditional saree out of duct tape, Wells also created sandals, bangles, a blouse undergarment, a skirt lining, earrings and a hairpiece – all made using duct tape. The entire project took her about 40 hours to complete.
“It was definitely nerve-wracking,” Wells said about participating in the competition. “You don’t know what other people are designing, so that was probably the most nerve-wracking element for me… but I was also very excited, and, when I finished it, I was very proud of myself.”
The Stuck at Prom contest awards college scholarships to students who craft prom attire made almost entirely out of duct tape. Contestants submit photos and detailed descriptions of their creations and a public vote is cast to determine the finalists.
Wells is set to start at Ship this fall as a biology major – with long-term plans of becoming a pediatric dentist. While fashion design is one of her passions, her time in the dental assisting program at DC Tech and as a dental assistant at Kearns and Ashby Pediatric Dentistry helped her discover her career path. Nonetheless, fashion remains a huge part of who she is.
“In my free time, I design in my sketchbook,” Wells said. “It’s a way for me to unwind after a long day. I can take my creative visions and put them down on paper.”
She hopes to continue exploring her passion for fashion design at Ship. Wells is particularly interested in the Fashion Archives and Museum of Shippensburg University, a hands-on learning lab that showcases historical clothing collections and offers research opportunities.
She even sees potential in combining her two passions.
“I plan on keeping fashion as a side thing, and maybe one day I can design scrubs. I already have some designs in my sketchbook.”
Wells is not only looking forward to her biology coursework and fashion pursuits; she is also looking forward to joining the university’s Boxing Club and potentially studying abroad in a healthcare-based volunteer program.
She explained that she chose to attend Ship because of its strong biology program and as a continuation of her family legacy, as her father, Jamal Wells, is an alumnus of the university’s education and counseling master’s program.
As Wells prepares for her first semester at Ship, with her passion and drive in fashion design, dentistry and beyond, she is already on the right track to being a well-rounded and successful student.
