Everyone likes pretty clothes.
High fashion crash lands at Western Connecticut State University this Friday, May 1st through the ACSA Annual Fashion Show! In collaboration with BSU (Black Student Union) and BSWA (Black Social Workers Association), exploring themes of individuality through personal and cultural flair, ACSA says this year’s ‘Our Identity In Motion’ show is one you can’t afford to miss.
From segments to models the heart of the show is inclusivity. The ACSA may stand for African Caribbean Student Association, but the show is not limited to students of African or Caribbean descent. Fundraising coordinator Natalia Gonzalez cheers, “If you can work it, you can work it.”
With more specific central themes of diversity and personality, the ACSA hopes to spread their roots throughout WCSU — highlighting students’ cultures that otherwise live in the shadows. The annual fashion show invites students to a friendly community for (while not exclusive to) students of color who feel distant from their ancestry yet not American enough; students who are proud to represent their countries, who want to spread cultural joy, and everyone else that may fall in between.
Themes of personality are showcased more subtly throughout segments. Culture builds both upon itself and within people — so why not include that vulnerable side? Liking something so passionately it blends into what one considers their culture is an unappreciated aspect of diasporic culture itself. Including the ‘what I grew up with’ alongside the ‘what I was born into’ parts of culture further prove ACSA’s dedication to providing a show for all walks of life.
The “motion” element comes from the club’s desire to show their culture as more than traditional prints. There is so much fluidity in culture that often goes unnoticed due to how faint its influence is; which is why the club wants to bring it to the forefront this year. Rather than pandering to outdated stereotypes, this year’s fashion show wants to reveal the history of cultures through a modern angle and educate their audience through art.
Much like the cultures they represent, the ACSA faced their fair share of issues as well. When speaking with The Echo, veteran member, previous President, and current Vice President of the ACSA Tatyana Santiago reflected on the fashion show’s past and how it lacked guidance in the past, especially post-COVID.
“For the last year and a half the fashion show was done… we were barely able to practice. It was definitely a big struggle.”
When clubs faced budget cuts in the past, the ACSA entertained the idea of cutting the fashion show altogether. Feeling the significance and time they had already put in was too much to part with, they held the show but dropped the overarching themes to make it affordable. From there, the members slowly built back up the fashion show’s renown, or as the current President Julian Rivera puts it, “second pride.”
Each show is an evolution of the last, but ‘Identity In Motion’ is a phoenix rising from the ashes. Where ACSA could not control hardships, they turned to an introspective appeal to start bringing culture to the forefront of their campaign.
When asked how this year’s show feels different from the last for him, President Rivera simply responded with, “I feel like Michael Jackson.”
His thought process behind this comparison was how he felt he needed to put on the “the most memorable show they’ve ever seen.” From what I’ve gathered, the ACSA isn’t too far off.
But the radiant night that all of these dreams converge at is a high intensive process only brought to fruition by the hard work and dedication of all the club members.
I asked what preparations for the big show look like for E-Board members and was awestruck to find out it all begins during the summer.
They begin by discussing deadlines for audition dates and finding designers in the summer. Segment leaders must prepare a well-thought-out plan and vision to be voted on by November. From there, models are picked for specific segments and then the rehearsals start.
When asking new E-Board member Daniela Perez on how the added responsibility felt in a leadership position added to the stress of a model she quipped, “It’s very exuberant.”
I inquired what the club hopes to achieve every year through this show. The members responded with numerous wants and goals, but a familiar thread traced every response: to inspire.
If you see this show, and believe me you must, ACSA wants to inspire people to embrace themselves who otherwise wouldn’t have the confidence to do so. Beyond the first spark of inspiration, the ACSA prides themselves in the networking web they have woven into the fashion show.
Starting last year, previous years models have been scouted to participate in other fashion shows and other fashion weeks around Connecticut and New York. More than heritage, this show aims to reach and connect people to brand new heights.
With all this buzz around them, the ACSA hopes to break away from the fashion show mold that’s been synonymous with the stereotypical thin look and send a message to society that championing beauty isn’t XS only.
“It’s not [about] who’s going to win, [we] are all winners because everybody’s different and everyone’s beautiful in their own way.”
— Daniela Perez
On the other end of the spectrum, I interviewed first-time model Becca Hensley on the fashion show experience. Green to the fashion world, Becca described her experience with the ACSA as a positive one.
“We had professional models come in too to help out…that was very helpful.”
— Becca Hensley
Past internal insecurities, as one of the few white models, she worried about not fitting the “image” of the ACSA but now hopes to show the student body that this is a fun community experience open to all meant to elevate not alienate.
“The fashion show is for everybody. You can audition no matter what you look like, no matter what you dress like… even though I may not have the same experiences [as] people of color in the show, I can still put in good work and get a good result.”
— Becca Hensley
The most varied answers gotten from the ACSA were in response to the question, “What are you most excited for?”
Some members are excited to perform for an audience and showcase their hard work, others are excited to have a tangible experience they can put on a resumé, senior members are simply excited to execute the show for an audience. Yet through these divisive answers one thing became evidently clear: everyone is excited to put on a good show.
That show is this Friday, May 1st, at WCSU’s Ives Concert Hall! Doors open at 6PM and the show officially starts at 7PM. Don’t miss out on a once in a lifetime experience and check out ACSA’s annual fashion show. Needless to say, you can expect nothing short of a great time.
Life is short. Go to the show.
Learn More Info Here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DWH-SUxDzkr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Ives Concert Hall
181 White Street, Danbury, CT, 06810
Doors Open at 6PM
Show Starts at 7PM
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