Creative Perspectives Club: A Place for Every Student
By: Libby Clark
What began as a shared idea between two friends has quickly grown into a creative space for the entire Marist community, one that proves creativity isn’t limited to the classroom. Creative Perspectives is the new club on campus that welcomes students from all majors to come together and explore art and design.
Background
Stephania Bendek ('26) and Lila Fagel ('26), the founders of Creative Perspectives, saw a need for a more hands-on creative space at Marist. “There’s so much creativity on this campus, but no design-focused clubs,” says Bendek. “We wanted to create a space where people could express themselves freely, without fear of being judged.” Lila adds, “this club provides students with a creative outlet to be expressive. Students are consumed by their academics on a daily basis and have trouble finding the time to explore their artistic interests or decompress through creativity. Creative spaces like this club allow students to reconnect with their imagination, take a break from the pressures of school, and build community through shared expression. It promotes mental well-being, self-confidence, and interdisciplinary collaboration, making campus life more vibrant and inclusive.”
Initially, they considered calling the club “Fashion Design Club”, but they wanted a name that would encompass the mission, something that included everyone’s unique viewpoint to connect with the original purpose of the club. That’s how they came up with Creative Perspectives. “The name Creative Perspectives really encapsulates our club’s mission: to give students a space to explore different creative outlets and artistically express themselves. With such a diverse student body, it is interesting to see the culmination of various students’ point of views.” says Lila. The club’s mission also ties to this year’s Silver Needle Runway (SNR) theme, Perspective, which encourages students to challenge norms and embrace their unique ways of thinking. “It was a funny coincidence,” says Stephania. This coincidence speaks to the shared mindset of our student body and highlights the collective energy driving students forward.
In just one semester, Creative Perspectives has already hosted a series of exciting and engaging events. For their first event, Stephania and Lila drew inspiration from one of their freshman-year courses, Creative Process—a class that sparked the initial idea for the club. In that class, the professor, JM would often provide drawing prompts that encouraged students to think creatively and express their ideas visually. Reflecting on that experience, they wondered, “What if everyone had the chance to do something similar?” They decided to bring this concept to life in their first event, where they gave participants a drawing prompt in the same style as JM’s class. For the founders, it felt like a way to share that experience with a broader audience, extending beyond just their major. The next event was a collaboration with Silver Needle Runway (SNR), where members participated in a tapestry-making workshop. Currently, the club is planning another drawing event, but this time it will be a competition. Members will be asked to draw what "perspective" means to them, and the winning drawings will be displayed at the upcoming SNR fashion show—so there’s plenty to look forward to!
Behind the Scenes
To understand what keeps the club running, I spoke with board member Nicoletta Karras, a sophomore fashion design major. She shared that Stephania introduced her to the club, and she was immediately drawn in. “I wanted something that was more hands-on and design-oriented,” she said. Having often helped friends with simple sewing tasks like reattaching buttons, Nicoletta realized there was genuine interest in learning basic design skills. “My friends are always coming up to me like, ‘Nicoletta, how do you sew this? How do you sew that?’ If I’m wearing something new, they’ll say, ‘Oh, I really like that,’ and I’ll tell them, ‘Thanks, I made it.’ And they’re always like, ‘I wish I knew how to sew. I wish I knew how to do that.’” Through the club, she’s been able to teach others and create a collaborative environment. Nicoletta especially loved the club's first meeting. “There was such a great turnout, and it was fun to see everyone’s designs. I’m used to being cooped up in the studio by myself, so it was refreshing to see everyone's work, even those who weren’t fashion majors.”
Creative Perspectives has indeed become a place for students of all majors. In speaking with other members, a history major, a psychology and criminal justice double major, and a business major, a clear pattern emerged: a shared enthusiasm for exploring creatively. Each person mentioned how the club helped them reconnect with artistic passions, discover new skills, and feel included in a creative community.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Stephania and Lila are excited to expand Creative Perspectives with new, hands on opportunities for students. In the coming year, they plan to host more sewing events, including a crash course in sewing to help members learn essential skills. They are also developing a certification process that will allow students to earn access to the design studios, which are typically limited to fashion design majors. By passing a short exam, demonstrating their ability to use an industrial Juki machine, members, including non-design majors, will be permitted to sew in the studios under supervision. In addition to these initiatives, they hope to collaborate with more clubs and organizations on campus, such as MPorium, and eventually create branded merchandise for the club. All of these efforts aim to open up valuable resources to a wider range of students, helping to further promote the club’s mission of inclusivity and creative expression.
As they look to the future, Stephania and Lila are excited to keep building a creative, welcoming space for the Marist community. For more updates on their journey, check out the Creative Perspectives Club Instagram.
@maristcreativeperspectives