Tulane Fashion Show Recap
As the sun set on April 16, the LBC quad came to life. Dozens of chairs were lined atop the grass, quickly being filled by students, teachers, friends, and more, all eagerly counting the minutes until 6 pm. A flat, narrow platform parted the the audience, acting as a bridge between the black curtains in the front and the photographers at the end. Soon, the ambient music and anticipatory excitement quieted, and Elle Kaminski took the mic.
Kaminski is a current senior and President of TU Fashion, Tulane's premier fashion organization. As an active member of TU Fashion since her freshman year, she was just one of many on a team of talented individuals who brought the brilliance of the annual Tulane Fashion Show to fruition. Kaminski balanced various responsibilities in her role as president by "monitoring, coordinating, organizing, making sure communication was going well between officers, managing communication with administration, and working with the other people on the executive board to make sure the venue was secured, registered, and that there was the right budget for it." In delegating the work, she says, "Ultimately, I left the nitty-gritty of production, garment, and marketing to Barbara," VP of Sewing and Design. Through managing all of the teams, whether it be marketing, garment, or creative direction, she spoke on behalf of everyone in claiming one of the greatest rewards is seeing everything come together. With so many critical moving parts, it truly takes a group effort. Her commitment to the success of the production is admirable, allowing every aspect of the show to shine in unison. After giving a short speech to the audience, Kaminski took a seat in the front row to witness everything they'd been working towards.
Isaiah Register, Jacki Hemman, Barbara Malamut, Robbie Johnson (left to right)
When the first model emerged from behind the black curtains, the guests were amazed as she became a human canvas. The model's look was created in real-time in front of the whole audience, as her tan-colored head-to-toe outfit was spray painted with red and blue. Barbara Malamut, Vice President of Sewing and Design, spoke about how the team wanted to incorporate a piece with a more theatrical element to it, as fashion shows are now starting to become more of an event - not just something to attend because you want a specific look. After the crowd was stunned by an engaging first look, models started to pour out from behind the curtain; each look more intricate than the last. The audience was completely captivated as the models glided down the outdoor runway. Malamut was responsible for designing 15 of those stunning runway looks, all of which began in a rough pattern outline, were put into the architecture school's plotting program, cut out by the garment team, and then finally sewn together by her. The final month leading up to the show was dedicated to small details like bedazzling and finishing touches to perfect each look.
After the show, Malamut spoke out about how she is proud that she led her team in a way that everyone involved cared about the event as much as she did. She described all her designs as her "babies" and recalled putting a lot of work into the look titled "sweat," also mentioning that the one titled "lungs" was a very difficult task. Her responsibilities didn't just stop at bringing her creative mind into constructing so many different outfits but also included speaking with various department deans to get the event approved, TUPD, and organizing everyone involved in the design process.
In explaining the theme of the show online, Kaminski describes it as, "Blood, Sweat and Tears. Each show is based on an academic area of study, this year inspired by the medical field; the title serves as a nod to the dedication of medical professionals in their field and our student team for their incredibly hard work. Barb can be accredited with coming up with this year's title and theme, which the team then used to create a mood board and base designs off of. The show featured 20 pieces focusing on bodily anatomy, technological advancements in the field, and tributes to breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, assault survivors, and reproductive rights". One of the most memorable looks was worn by Jarred Brown, who modeled an outfit representative of HIV/AIDS. It said the words "act up", as he made his way down the catwalk in a jean two-piece. Kaminski says it immediately reminded her of the theme's impact and importance, saying "Jarred carries himself in a way that's all-inspiring in itself". A pin drop could be heard amongst the audience, every face hypnotized by the power in his strut. Another unforgettable moment wasn't just from a solo act but as a duo. The twins' look was unique, and she remembers seeing the outline of it months ago, recalling that their facial expressions sent her "full-body chills". Every single one of the pieces had its own special moment, and all together, formulated a high-quality, thought-out art form.
Jarred Brown in the all denim look for HIV/AIDS awareness
In a club with over 400 registered members and an entirely student-run show with sold-out seating, it's hard to say that fashion is just the clothing on our bodies. It's a community, it's a statement, and it's a culture. The 2023 TU Fashion Show embodied all three of those traits and so much more. It was a visual representation of all the dedication, creativity, and conversation that happens when people with overlapping passions come together. As for the future of the clubs' shows, Kaminski "would love for the growth to continue and make waves within the Tulane student body... I'd love to see more recognition from the school itself, as the club can help support and give a hand to those who want to pursue design, modeling, fashion, etc. We are able to provide an outlet for students who want to explore these industries, but since we have so many creative people, I'd love for there to be more alignment with the school itself". With this year's show now complete, seniors graduating, and a new incoming class of freshmen, it's clear that TU Fashion is only getting started. With so much done in such a short amount of time, it's important to look back at these accomplishments as not only inspiration but the motivation to continue exceeding expectations.