Los Angeles is about 3,000 miles away from Bryant Park, the famous location of New York’s fashion week. Regardless, the drama and glamour of the fashion world is about to be “Unleashed” upon UCLA ““ thanks to the unbounded creative talent of some of our most fashion-savvy fellow Bruins.
“Unleashed,” UCLA Fashion and Student Trend’s 8th annual fashion show, will take place tonight from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Ackerman Grand Ballroom. The show features 14 student designers, over 30 student models and dance groups ACA Hip Hop and Work, Beat, Fierce.
The “Unleashed” theme, selected by FAST board members, encompasses the concept of unabashed self-expression, encouraging designers to take risks and let loose their creativity ““ no matter how varied or wild the results.
“FAST has always been about expressing yourself, being really confident in whoever you are, because whatever is on the runway is yours, and whatever the models do is theirs. It is all about being an artist and an entertainer, not about dealing with rules or regulations,” Audrey Nguyen, fourth-year bioengineering student and president of FAST, said.
Designs run the gamut from functional street wear to the avante-garde, and every garment represents a piece of the designer’s evolving identity. FAST members hope that audience members will be inspired by the show’s celebration of raw creativity and the diversity of designers’ vision.
“The emphasis on saying “˜this is who I am’ is definitely inspired by our time of life. I think that every college student feels they are finding out who they are. These designers have definitely gone on a journey of exploration and experimentation that I think everyone can relate to,” Kim Kajohn, fourth-year history student and vice president of FAST, said.
Being selected as one of the featured FAST designers is no small feat. After going through a rigorous application process, designers are given approximately five months to conceptualize and create six to 10 garments that express the show’s theme.
“I was literally screaming backstage. There were clothes being ripped off, models changing everywhere ““ it was chaos,” Aimee Sorek, the designer director of FAST, said of her backstage experience at last year’s show. “But it is worth it, when you see your designs go down the runway, it is so amazing, it is surreal.”
FAST, while hoping to encourage self-exploration in budding designers, also hopes to break some of the stereotypes associated with fashion ““ namely, the idea that fashion is just a vain affinity for clothing trends. In addition to collecting clothing donations for Food on Foot, a charity that feeds and clothes the homeless in Los Angeles, “Unleashed” also aims to emphasize the artistic aspects of fashion.
“It is about being inspired by the talent of your peers ““ these are people your age. Fashion can be misinterpreted, but this is about showcasing student talent. Fashion is an art form walking and moving on the runway instead of on canvas,” Nguyen said.
This year’s show is expected to be the most impressive ever. With increased publicity due to the growing popularity of FAST’s
thefastblog.com, as well as collaborative efforts with Bruin Ad Team and multiple sororities, the FAST show is quickly becoming a much-hyped UCLA tradition.
“Unleashed” boasts a newer, sleeker stage, more intensively trained models and, most importantly, the promise of the big premiere of several designers new to FAST and the fashion scene.
“We have taken on a lot of new designers, and there is a wider variety of UCLA groups working together this year. Everyone worked really hard to draw attention to the show ““ we did row walks on sorority row to find models, and we spread the word on the Hill. I feel this is going to be our biggest year ever,” Kajohn said.
Whether or not one worships at the altar of names like Chanel and Dior, there is something to be said for the escape that fashion offers from everyday monotony. Tonight, Bruins can benefit a charitable cause through getting in touch with their inner fashionista.
“Fashion has no “˜yes’ and “˜no’. Beauty, even, has so many interpretations,” Nguyen said. “”˜Unleashed’ is really a mentality. This year is all about breaking rules, about saying to people, “˜Unleash yourself ““ go.'”