Sara DeVolld, a 16-year-old Connections Homeschool student from Soldotna, was last month featured twice in charity fashion shows for her Vintage Train Case “wearable art designs.”

A release from DeVolld’s mother says that the Vintage Train Case designs include dresses, jewelry and ballet costumes that combine “futuristic elements and retro glamour.”

Her work integrates LED lights and motorized elements in keeping with a desire to “bring joy, light, and elegance to a world that can seem dire, dark, and overwhelming.”

“So often young women feel pressured to choose either the arts or the sciences, I want to show that we can do both,” she says in the release.

DeVolld was commissioned by the American Heart Association to design a gown for Alaska’s Red Dress Collection, part of the celebration for the association’s 100th anniversary. The work she created is called “Heartlight,” a red velvet and satin dress with LED lighting, “handmade flower petals” and a removable train. It was featured at the Go Red for Women event on Feb. 16.

DeVolld’s designs were also featured at this year’s Trend Alaska Fashion Show on Feb. 17, and at the same event last year. That event raises money for Alaska nonprofits, and benefited Let Every Woman Know and Victims for Justice during the years that DeVolld’s work was featured — raising a combined $450,000.

In this year’s show, DeVolld was featured for “Towards the Sun,” a gold-colored gown with LED lights and automated wings that open and close with a “remote controlled, battery powered actuator.” The design is an encouragement, the release says, to “spread your wings and seek the light.”

In last year’s show, DeVolld’s “Illuminations,” a blue gown also with integrated lights was featured.

Over the past two years, the release says DeVolld has spent more than 850 hours on designs intended to raise funds for Alaska nonprofits.

“Sara has been recognized by 3M, Discovery Education, The Alaska Society for Technology in Education, and The Alaska Youth Summit Awards for her innovative fusions of science and technology with art and design,” the release reads.

For more information, find “Vintage Train Case” on Facebook.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

Sara DeVolld wears “Towards the Sun,” a dress she designed that was featured in February’s Trend Alaska 2024 Fashion Show. (Photo provided by Shona DeVolld)

Sara DeVolld wears “Towards the Sun,” a dress she designed that was featured in February’s Trend Alaska 2024 Fashion Show. (Photo provided by Shona DeVolld, by Ondago Photo)

Sara DeVolld wears “Illuminations,” a dress she designed that was featured in the 2023 Trend Alaska Fashion Show. (Photo provided by Shona DeVolld, by Cale Green)

Sara DeVolld wears “Heartlight,” a dress she designed that was featured in this year’s Alaska’s Red Dress Collection. (Photo provided by Shona DeVolld)

Sara DeVolld wears “Heartlight,” a dress she designed that was featured in this year’s Alaska’s Red Dress Collection. (Photo provided by Shona DeVolld)

Sara DeVolld works on “Towards the Sun,” a dress she designed that was focused in this year’s Trend Alaska Fashion Show. (Photo provided by Shona DeVolld)