DALLAS — At Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedic Hospital in Dallas, there's no chimney. But Santa Claus still delivered here this year thanks to some fashion students from Texas Woman's University.
The students ended up here when fashion merchandising lecturer and professor Remy Odukomaiya learned how scoliosis patients struggle to put on clothes. That's because, during treatment, kids are often fitted with a halo around their heads that makes it virtually impossible to put on a shirt without stretching it out.
“Every day, [we're] just on the fly trying to make something work,” one parent said.
Some parents have gone so far as to cut their child’s clothes just to get them to fit.
“Why should a parent have to do that?” asked Odukomaiya. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
So she stitched together a plan: She asked her students to design and create clothes tailored to these kids.
They worked all semester to figure out what would fit. Then, shortly before Christmas, they delivered their surprise: With hidden snaps and zippers, the clothes they created for these kids won’t be easily ruined or stretched out.
Trechelle Collins says the clothes won’t just transform her daughter Serenitee’s look; the gifts will also change her perspective.
“She doesn’t have to feel different because of her clothes,” Collins said. “She can still be fashionable -- and she’ll be able to do it herself, which is big.”
Collins says that may be the most important part. Feeling independent will help Serenitee feel like she can overcome her disability.
“Providing hope and happiness to them really makes me happy,” said TWU sophomore Zoria Madden.
For Odukomaiya, that’s more important than anything her students may ever accomplish after graduation. Because, even if her students' names one day grace their own labels, they’re already some of America’s greatest fashion icons in her eyes.
“That’s healing,” she said. “That’s healing.”