Read the text and mark the statements True, False or Not stated.
From hobby to a job
Yesterday at the Minnesota Fashion Week, the 15-year-old designer Rachel Giddings amazed the fashion world when she showed her clothes for the first time. Everyone agreed that they looked beautiful and that the attention to detail was surprising from one so young.
Rachel Giddings taught herself to sew when she was just seven years old. ‘I didn’t like my own clothes and I wanted to customize them, so I usually added things – like pockets or zips. Or I made them shorter! My mom used to get a bit worried about all the scissors and pins lying around,’ laughs Rachel. Then during the summer holidays one year, she was looking for something to do when she decided to do a summer course at a fashion and design school located in the heart of her home town, Woodbury, just outside Minneapolis.
At the summer school, Rachel learned many tips and techniques from her teacher, Canadian-born Joan Lo. When Rachel was 12, Joan invited a few teenagers to join her at the famous Toronto Fashion Week. ‘I loved it’, said Rachel. ‘It was just amazing and I knew that I wanted to be there’. She completed more fashion courses with Joan, and later attended a Fashion Week with her successful first designs from her collection. Rachel’s Mum says that this came as no surprise. ‘It’s what she has always wanted,’ she says. At the Minnesota Fashion Week, Rachel looked absolutely fabulous in her smart leather jacket which had a decoration of a small blue butterfly on it. ‘That was hard. I looked for the right material for a long time’. The result was perfect because it looked like a real butterfly.
‘It’s such a fun thing to do’, says Rachel. ‘I think more people should make their own clothes – or at least change their clothes to make their own, if you see what I mean!’ People at the event were making plenty of positive comments about her skill and designs. She sold all of her items and the money went to her own favourite charity, a local children’s hospital. ‘My little sister was there for a few weeks last year and the stuff were just wonderful. I know that they need money to make the children’s stay in hospital as comfortable as possible’.
Rachel admits that making and designing the clothes for the show was a lot of hard work. ‘At that time, I did all my work on the clothes after dinner, as I had a busy timetable at school and loads of homework as well. But it was worth it.’ When asked about her plans for the future, she says she is looking forward to a short break and then the preparations for next season’s collection will begin.

• Группы
  • True
  • False
  • Not stated
• Варианты
  • Rachel had to move to another town Woodbury to do a summer course at a fashion and design school.
  • Rachel spent the money she earned on a local children’s hospital.
  • Rachel’s clothes were much cheaper than her classmates’ clothes.
  • During a short break Rachel is going to visit her grandparents.
  • At the Minnesota Fashion Week Rachel Giddings presented her clothes to the fashion world for the first time.
  • Joan Lo was Rachel’s teacher who helped her to learn lots of tips and techniques.
  • Rachel admitted that making and designing clothes for the show was just a waste of time.
  • When Rachel was seven years old, her mum taught her to sew.
  • Rachel’s sister had never been interested in fashion.