The Channels

Issue date: 11/18/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: Linnea Hjelmtorp Lorena Rodriguez, a 21-year-old Nursing major from Mexico, wears a two piece Mexican-Aztec ensemble and headdress in the show.

From Japanese Kimonos to Mexican Aztec headdresses, students updated and internationalized their ethnic garb in the Marketing Club's fundraising fashion show Saturday night.

More than 140 audience members in the Business Communication Forum cheered as the "Fashion Flare" models strutted the catwalk in their brightly colored costumes. The runway twinkled with Christmas lights, and international flags lined the walls. New wave hip-hop set the beat for the models and members of the crowd.

Though many of the garments were specific to a certain country or ethnicity, some of the clothes represented a time period or location.

The clothing ranged from classic international garments, such as hand-made Japanese kimonos, to attire said to be "typical to southern California," which included an outfit made up of only board-shorts, flip flops, sunglasses and a beach towel.

Christian Lindsten, a 23-year-old marketing student from Sweden, said the models put together their own outfits to "represent a specific culture."

The club advisor, Marketing Professor Julie Brown, said the students were assigned to dress and make-up the models, using products provided by MAC and Sephora.

The show's models consisted of Marketing Club members, students from Brown's classes, and students voluntarily recruited on campus during the club's "mock photo-shoot" on Club Day.

Lindsten, who sported suspenders and a top hat, said he was going for the typical "1920s gangster" look.

Lorena Rodriguez, a 21-year-old nursing student from Mexico, chose to wear a Mexican-Aztec ensemble she said is considered everyday-wear by women in her culture. The blood red, two-piece outfit was topped with a traditional headdress made with 18-inch long feathers.

Though Brown emphasized that this was a "fashion show for fun" and not a professional show, several of the models had experience on the runway, which they made clear through confident walks in ten-inch heels.

Matilda Dahlin, an 18-year-old psychology student who waltzed error-free in her high-heels, said she gained runway experience by participating in beauty pageants.

And even though some of the models had their ethnic-garb handy, many, like Dahlin, purchased and put their outfits together with the help of local and department stores, including Angl, Macy's, and Nordstrom.

"It was interesting to see what everyone was wearing," Dahlin said.

A guest speaker also participated in the event. Susan Pitcher, who owns clothing stores "Dressed" and "Ready" in Montecito, spoke to the audience about the importance of marketing in the fashion world.

"My passion is inspiration," Pitcher said. "I really like sharing my knowledge with people who are ready to go out in the world."

The show, sponsored by the International Office, was headed by 21-year-old student and President of the Marketing club Nick Jimenez. He was the first student to take on the responsibilities of organizing and developing the event.

Jimenez said last year's show was run by Brown, but as president he "wanted to turn this club into something that was run by the officers."

"I really took this into my own hands," Jimenez said. "I really tried to give a vision for this event."

Brown said because Jimenez took charge, she didn't have as much of a hands-on role in the show this year. The club members raised the funds for the show, promoted and planned it.

"These kids have been incredibly busy," Brown said.

The money raised at the show will go toward a scholarship fund for Marketing Club members, Jimenez said.

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