The African Student Union (ASU), in collaboration with the Hilltopper Organization of Latin American Students (HOLAS), the Indian Student Association (ISA) as well as the Asian American Association (AAA), hosted the Inter“National” Fashion Show on Wednesday, April 17, in the Downing Student Union Auditorium.
Henri Aboah, former ASU president and current graduate advisor, said the event is usually an international fashion showcase. However, this year, ASU decided to add student brands to incorporate the “national” element.
“The purpose of the International Fashion Show is to display different cultures and to bring awareness to a predominantly white institution,” Aboah said. “One of our biggest goals with this is to bring a diverse crowd so we can all have an appreciation for a lot of the diverse students that we have here on campus.”
Models walked the runway in clothing representing regions across Africa, Latin America, South Asia and East Asia. Music, movement and narrative storytelling accompanied many of the designs, helping attendees experience the significance behind the fashion on display.
“I believe that for us, being here at a PWI campus, we want people to see us, not just for our skin color or where we come from or our accents,” Rawa Sam, ASU secretary, said. “We want people to see the good things that come from our country, such as our cultures or our cultures’ clothing. Our culture matters.”
The fashion show also spotlighted WKU students’ entrepreneurial ventures with the models, featuring student-owned fashion and accessory brands. ASU President and emcee of the event, Derick Tarr, said that it was an intentional choice.
“If we’re having a fashion show, I believe fashion should be modeled, and I thought it’d be a great idea to showcase the talent and the work that [students] put in,” Tarr said. “Hopefully, more people reach out to them, and they could benefit from it as well.”
ASU member Muhayimana Irankunda said the inclusive nature of the event also aimed to welcome a crowd that extended beyond just those represented on stage.
“You don’t even have to be from a foreign country or from Africa to come and enjoy this,” Irankunda said. “All people from all walks of life come, and it’s just a great thing to take away.”