This year’s Fashion Design and Merchandising final show to go back to the basics
The end of the year is just around the corner, and VCU’s School of Fashion Design and Merchandising is gearing up for their annual student-run fashion show at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on May 6.
Samantha McCartney
Staff Writer
The end of the year is just around the corner, and VCU’s School of Fashion Design and Merchandising is gearing up for their annual student-run fashion show at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on May 6. This year’s event is titled RAW, which according to interim chair of the department Donna Reamy is meant to emphasize the importance of the basics of fashion.
“We started talking about fashion and its DNA and the basic elements of fashion. Most importantly how something basic can be transformed into something beautifully designed,” said Reamy, who has seen and been involved in the juried show for the past few years.
“The best thing is to see the students’ reactions when their piece goes down the runway. It’s really a capstone for the school year for them,” Reamy said.
The show, organized by junior and senior fashion merchandising students, is on its third run at the Museum of Fine Arts which, considering the vast artistic talent, is the perfect venue. With more than 400 seats available in three rows, the fashion show tickets sold out within two hours.
Despite its popularity this year, the department would like for more people to be able to see VCU Fashion students’ talent, so next year they are considering adding another show to provide more opportunities to those who could not purchase tickets before they sold out.
The show will include around 128 pieces designed by upperclassmen within the design department. The garments were chosen by a panel of judges earlier in the semester. As with any runway show, there will be segments, ranging from eco-centric, focused on sustainable fashions to hip hop, which explores the influence of pop culture on fashion in today’s society.
Chaz Epps, a model chosen from the model call earlier in the semester, said that preparing for the show has been a learning experience.
“A lot of people wouldn’t think that there would be anything hard about walking in a fashion show. I’ve had to practice the right way to walk for over a month. So it’s not that simple.”
The RAW fashion show will take place in the Lousie B. and J. Harwood Cochrane Atrium within the Museum. CT
