By Keera Lowe
The ninth annual International Fashion Show transformed the University of Louisville Student Activities Center multipurpose room into a Midnight Chic event on Friday, Jan. 28.
Robin Chrisman is the director of the Student Activities Board and a senior communication major.
“The room took three 60-hour days to set up,” said Chrisman. “We put in a lot of hard work, but it was well worth it.”
The décor this year was designed by two former SAB members, Alex Hunnicutt and Paul Latham, who now collaboratively own Fleur de Lis Events & Design. The setup included falling lights, illuminated floating orchids, crape myrtle bouquets, and a purple glow that pulsed to DJ Prism’s beats. DJ Prism, also known as Cameron Kalegi, a junior marketing major, was a new addition to this year’s event. He helped sustain the energy of the crowd throughout the night, as well as set the tone for each cultural group who hit the stage.
“It is amazing,” said Gabrielle James, a sophomore chemistry major. “It does not even look like the SAC.”
SAB not only offered free admittance to students, but the event also included a free meal provided by Ramsi’s Cafe on the World, as well as free nonalcoholic beverages.
“It’s like a New York fashion show, except they don’t feed you [in New York],” said Reneisha Rudder, a sophomore nursing major.
The event’s hosts included Michael Anthony, the interim director of U of L’s Cultural Center, and Melanie Brison, the 2010 Miss University of Louisville.
“I hope this encourages you to reach out and make a difference every day on campus,” said Anthony, regarding the diversity represented in the show.
Most of the models in the show were students, totaling about 75 this year. The Indian Student Association began the show with bright red, yellow, orange and aqua apparel. Blush Boutique, the Buckle and General Eccentric provided the clothing for the two American lines – casual and dress – that followed. The Vietnamese Student Association performed a traditional lion dance, bringing the show offstage as the lion danced through the seated crowd. Then the Vietnamese students worked the catwalk in their flowing attire.
Further entertainment included belly dancing routines and Theta Beta’s step show and hip-hop dance. The African Student Union closed out the night with a display of patterns and colors, ranging from bold orange and yellow to cool gray.
“The show was great, especially the lion dance,” said Natasha Alvarez, a freshman political science major.
Barring a minor technical difficulty at the beginning of the show, Chrisman said that she found the night to be a success.
Aisha Ndlovu, the diversity chair of SAB and a junior English major, thought the night accomplished exactly what it was meant to accomplish.
“It was a celebration of the cultures on campus – a collaborative effort between the university and our student body,” said Ndlovu.
