FIA’s annual fashion show modifies LA style
The show called to attention how people are inspired by the power of fashion.
By JEFFERSON HERNANDEZ SEGOVIA
With eerie music and sharp movements, USC’s Fashion Industry Association’s annual fashion show began with a beautiful dance to music resembling nature’s sounds. All of the dancers wore light white clothes, appearing as if they were free from their surroundings, until their pain kicked in. Then, they walked off the main runway, crawling on the floor with their sorrows.
FIA held their annual show Saturday, featuring the works of eight designers. From elegant clothes to streetwear, FIA brought many different perspectives to this year’s theme: “olethros.” The Greek word translates to “ruin” and is often associated with the spiritual or physical destruction of an entity.
While the main show featured current student and alumni’s works along with outside designers, the sidelines highlighted the strong fashion community in Los Angeles. Freddy Tyler Paul, a musician and designer, combines both his passion for music with fashion to create his merch line, containing lyrics from his songs as well as references to albums. His two worlds intertwine, constructing a beautiful harmony.
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“It’s pretty sweet to write fun music,” Paul said. “My clothing is light-hearted, and it’s cool to mesh those worlds together.”
The world of fashion dives into other arts such as film, theatre and dance, blending seamlessly to tell a story. Inspiration can come from anywhere, especially for the talented designers featured at the show.
“A lot of the time, dancers have to dress themselves, because we’re not given things to wear — I really take influence from events like these to inspire me for my costumes,” said Simone Peterson, a dancer in the show and junior majoring in dance.
When the show began, the models strutted down the runway, highlighting each designer’s pieces. Every set was personable and unique, as each artist brought their own voice to their art. Ranging from “Futurism” by Evan Gibson to “Bandit” by Odin Frostad, the show brought a diverse group of individuals that interpreted the theme differently and transformed it into their own.
The outfits took inspiration from several movements throughout the history of fashion. Charlie Segal and Jaden Steinhoff’s line “Sunshine Reigns” spotlights the juxtaposition of South Central style from the perspective of a college student. Meanwhile, “Serene” by Tiana Mai takes a more peaceful approach, showcasing a divine feminine look.
“Each of the other collaborating artists really took that [theme] and found what that meant to them, and then took it from there. It’s really amazing to see how they interpret it,” said Abriana Stewart, FIA’s head of events and a junior majoring in arts, technology and business of innovation.
The event came together after a semester of hard work from FIA’s models, designers, choreographers and technicians. (Tai Lyn Sandhu / Daily Trojan)
On the other hand, the models brought personality to the clothing. Fierce looks made the streetwear look more vicious and fashionable, while models wearing elegant dresses brought in a more calm and graceful energy. Although the models made it look easy, they went through extensive auditions and fittings to be able to walk.
“Each collection is paired with models who have spent hours working together with the designers, in numerous fittings, shoots and rehearsals,” said Katie Jung, a junior majoring in fine arts. “The show tonight is brought to you by a very long semester’s worth of ideation, hours-long meetings, designing and a combination of talented FIA board members.”
Fashion has helped many find a sense of identity, bringing them closer to who they are without judgement. The art of fashion transcends clothing, and the guests at FIA’s show knew this, as it personally made an impact on their lives.
“I think each life phase that I’ve had is related to [fashion]. As my life progresses, I’m in a bigger environment, and that makes me feel more confident to express myself without judgment, because I’m not stuck in a small room where everyone knows me and everyone’s judging me,” said Kelly Kim, a model and content creator as well as a show attendee.
People from all arrays of artistry worked together to set up the event. The behind-the-scenes crew shined light on each other to uplift their vision of what a cohesive show should look like. Every person was a piece of a puzzle that could not have been completed without each other.
“I loved working with the lighting designers, with the dancers, the choreographers and the digital artists. It was all super cool,” Stewart said. “Trying to figure out how to kind of let them have enough creative agency, to allow us to fit all together was really amazing.”
