ASA Fashion Show
The African Student Association at Texas A&M put on a fashion show in February that exhibited the beautiful intricacies of Black excellence in the world of fashion. Elevated in its production yet grounded in its purpose, the show, entitled “Black Across the Board,” told an expansive story of where African American fashion is rooted and how its influence expands beyond all boundaries. When asked how the show’s theme was chosen, ASA President Dunebari Mii said, “The theme was born out of the idea that the show can’t be one-dimensional; Black style isn’t limited to one genre of fashion, but its beauty lies in its diversity. In every sphere of culture and fashion, you’ll find us. I knew I wanted to display that diversity with streetwear, fashion, and cultural wear, and that’s the theme ‘Black Across the Board’ was born.”
The show was divided into three sections: streetwear, high fashion, and cultural wear, with an intermission between each—an atypical decision, given fashion shows are usually shown in one sitting with a consecutive flow of models. However, the unorthodox layout was a purposeful production choice, as Mii said they “wanted to take a non-traditional approach to your typical fashion show at every layer to create a holistic experience.” The breaks between segments encouraged onlookers to discuss the prior section, which opened an in-depth dialogue between strangers that may not have occurred otherwise.
The show opened with the streetwear segment, a form of styling that emphasizes self-expression without the constraints of any given dress code. Models sauntered down the runway in leopard coats, motorcycle suits, combat boots, eclectic hats, bomber jackets, and stilettos. To recount every detail of every piece the models wore would take days. For the second segment, the show progressed into a display of high fashion. The prologue for the segment emphasized that Black voices are invaluable to the elevation of the high fashion industry, and the subsequent looks did not disappoint. High fashion can be described as the center point of the industry, where top designers generate high-quality looks that may only ever be seen on a runway. The idea is to create an artistic visual so desirable that the consumer cannot help but buy into it. The ASA show sought to bring their own take on high fashion through cinched silhouettes, exquisite headpieces, and expensive-looking fabrics. From the audience, the models looked luxurious and walked with confidence, a confidence that said, “I belong here.” The third and final segment was cultural wear. Inspired by the traditional dress of African cultures, each model was met with an eruption of cheers from the audience. The celebration of a historically suppressed culture on a runway was felt throughout the room, and the emotion could not be silenced.
“The three themes were chosen because of their historical and cultural significance,” said Mii. “I pitched the three categories of style under the ‘Black Across the Board’ theme, but left the door open for creative freedom with the stylists and models—this was a key factor in making the show so dynamic rather than cut and dry.” A fashion show’s stylist is responsible for the dressing of the models—a task more difficult than it appears, as they must be thorough in every element to be unique as an individual, yet remain cohesive as a whole. In order to accomplish this, ASA recruited stylists from several different cultural backgrounds who participate in several organizations across campus. “The majority of our stylists came from A-Line Magazine, some from ASA, others were just people who heard about the show,” said Mii. “As for models, we had over 60, all from Texas A&M, University of Houston, and Prairie View A&M.”
ASA’s fashion show set a precedent for the innovative, creative spirit the organization will continue to foster. When asked for Dunebari’s final thoughts, he said, “Apart from a great show, I’m most proud of how the community was able to come together in a meaningful way. I wanted to make our presence known on this campus, and I think we did that.” Indeed, they did.
Written by Parker Elkins, Design: Jelena Nguyen, Social Media: Supriya Vattikonda