Cultural Fashion at JWU

As the winter months roll in, there is perhaps no greater change seen than in the clothes students are wearing. Of course the colder weather brings out everyone’s favorite sweater or beanie cap but could you imagine seeing a traditional Bahamian dress? Every year around this time, the International Fashion Society, or IFS, hosts a fashion show to display local designers but more specifically, designers from differing cultures and backgrounds. This year’s theme was exactly that: culture.

The IFS’s own line titled "Roots" started the show with various students donning clothes typical for their individual cultures. A piece included was a white, quarter button-up collared dress with blue flowers from The Bahamas to start off that section of the show and what followed was an exceptional showcase of diversity amongst the student body and a celebration of the significance of cultural traditions in fashion. My personal favorite outfit was a knit skirt and crop top with the colors and symbol of the Haitian flag; the vibrancy of the colors and intricacy of the design was mesmerizing. Another piece which took a similar approach was the one representative of Jamaica. This tight, tank top dress was fitted with a knit skirt and swirled with the colors of the Jamaican flag.

I managed to speak with the president of IFS, Jorden Penco-Marshall, after the event to gain some insight as to the choices made for the show. According to her, the idea behind this show was to allow students to express their individual cultures through the clothing they chose to wear. Additionally, with the institution of a new E-Board and a whole new set of models, the organization wanted to allow their members the chance to make the fashion show their own in that they would carry out their vision rather than the vision of previous members. Ultimately though, Jorden wants students to understand that, “No matter who you are, you have a space at JWU to express yourself, whether it’s through fashion, photography, or designs.”

Overall, the line by IFS gained such rapturous applause that the host could barely describe the outfits being modeled without the audience cutting her off. During the latter sections of the show, multitudinous brands had the opportunity to market their own outfits that came with a story themselves. Designers like Keeping Balance, Valorous Forever, and Kwenda (meaning “Go” in Swahili) espouse the belief that having courage and persevering is tantamount to success in life. Even if there was no lesson to be learned, other brands certainly made an impact with their unique style and eye-catching graphics.

Most notably, Urban Pigeons can best be described as controlled chaos. The compilation of various fabric patterns and opposing ideas gives the line a purposefully tacky vibe but upon further inspection, there is clear intention with every choice made that essentially negates the so-called absurdity of its concept. Patchwork trench coats paired with bodysuits and heels doesn’t scream high-end or street fashion but rather forms a blend of the two that is appealing to people across classes.

The amount of time and effort put into this fashion show was obvious and it all certainly paid off. The student designs exemplified individuality with a nod to tradition while the invited designers inspired a sense of empowerment within the audience. Out of everything though, there was a great emphasis on the cultural influence on clothing and how it all comprises who we are as individuals.