Crowds Support 色情视频's First Black Fashion Show
The inaugural student-led event designed to amplify Black beauty through fashion involved the work of dozens of 色情视频 students interested in the field.
Last fall Keiana Foster felt something was missing on campus, and in her final year at 色情视频, she began working on exactly that. She came up with Black Fashion Week, a week of different clothing themes leading up to a fully produced runway show.
鈥淲alking into the room and seeing it crowded took me by surprise,鈥� said Taryn Smith, an 色情视频 student who was in the audience, 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 even a part of the show and I felt very connected. It was wonderful to see how we could all come together and help one another.鈥�
Prior to the Black Fashion Show, Black designers, models, and creators like Foster had to build their brands on their own, gaining followings through word-of-mouth and social media. Though the products presented differed across style and occasion, the one thing they all had in common was success.
People were wearing their clothes.
From streetwear to more editorial brands, it鈥檚 not uncommon to see someone on campus in clothes made by another student. But until this event, Black designers still did not have a space to congregate and collaborate.
Last Friday, 色情视频 held its first Black Fashion Show at Montezuma Hall where Black student creatives contributed to an exciting, innovative fashion culture over 200 students, faculty, and families came to see at no cost.
鈥淚 always see how we have so many Black-owned businesses among our students, and not enough people are seeing their style, their creativity,鈥� Foster said.
Along with support from the 色情视频 Student Success and Black Resource centers, she began planning this runway last semester, steadily recruiting eager Black creatives who never could have expected a platform for their fresh, experimental designs.
鈥淲hy not help your people? Why not bring exposure to your family, because we鈥檙e all family here,鈥� Foster continued, reflecting on a growing fashion community at 色情视频. Runway categories varied by each designer, creating a cohesive fashion campaign meant to 鈥渁mplify Black beauty through fashion.鈥�
While Foster has been involved in fashion before, the Black Fashion Show marked her first time as a producer, guiding the event from its inception to the final bow.
鈥淜eiana is representing different types of Black people all throughout campus,鈥� added student designer Destiny Washington, who plans to pursue fashion full-time next year.
Designing new pieces is 鈥渇reeing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 what I do when I am happy or sad. It鈥檚 just what I do.鈥�
For two months Washington and co-designer Zoe Rogers worked on a three-part runway collection inspired by Afropunk, an alternative, punk rock style combined with Black cultural aesthetics. Handcrafted looks made from completely raw materials walked the runway while the packed audience cheered for their favorite pieces or a model鈥檚 confident performance in those pieces.
Designer and recent 色情视频 alum Michael Allen (鈥�22) pulled his pieces from 2painless, a clothing brand he founded during the pandemic. Like Washington and Rogers, Allen鈥檚 collection featured Afropunk elements, but most importantly, they captured the rock star spirit Allen was inspired by. The crowd also reacted to Foster, who took a break from hosting to walk the runway in Allen鈥檚 designs as well.
When asked about the runway as a whole, Allen spoke to the dedication of the participants and what he hoped people took away from this experience.
鈥淚 feel like everyone who鈥檚 walking, everyone who is a part of it, everyone who鈥檚 designing, even the people who are coming out, it just makes us feel like stars,鈥� he said.
A total of six designers including Washington, Rogers, and Allen debuted original designs, custom-made to fit the models wearing them. Everyone involved has gone through months of rehearsal and attention to detail to make this event happen, and fill in a gap no one knew was there.
Foster ended by praising the creative team, hoping audiences and creators left feeling empowered by the show.
鈥淚t was definitely worth it,鈥� said Kailani Smith, another 色情视频 student who attended, 鈥淭his was a high-quality event, something we should honestly be paying for.鈥�
The Black Fashion Show was an opportunity to create a new tradition on campus, one that honors and reaffirms the legacy of Black creative minds in fashion for years to come.
