On March 25, I got the opportunity to attend the Fashion for Change show at University of Waterloo. The show was run by a group of talented students at the university to promote artistic expression through different mediums, such as dance, music, fashion, art and dance. I was additionally pleasantly surprised to find out that the club has raised over $125,000 for charity over the last 10 years. This really demonstrated the hard work and dedication that students have to promoting and exploring artistic talents. Upon attending, I was instantly engaged and impressed by the attention to detail that the students put into the show that gave the audience a night to remember.
To begin, the theme of the show was emotions, and specifically, getting the audience to relate to their emotions through different artistic expressions. Each performance used specific songs and styles of dance that allowed the audience to feel the particular emotion that the performers portrayed. For example for fear, the music was more eerie and chilling, which had the audience on their toes. The dance movements were very slow and dramatic, further conveying this message to the audience. On top of this, the wardrobe changes were very on-theme, and matched the emotion that the performers were demonstrating. An example of this was the matching red outfits that the performers wore to display anger.
Given that the target audience was students attending University of Waterloo, I was impressed to see how well they appealed to this demographic. The songs that the performers chose were very trendy and well-known; this way, the audience could connect and feel engaged. The use of lighting also had a great effect on the quality of the performance. The lighting created mood, highlighted the important elements of the performance, and enhanced the audience’s emotional connection with the performers. The script was organized and followed an engaging format throughout the entire show. The use of expression and body language during the acting had us viewers excited to see what the next number was going to be!
Besides the captivating performances, the students did a remarkable job at delivering a message. My personal favorite part of the show was the message regarding sustainability. The outfits were made of plastic and paper bags, old newspaper and fishing nets; this exemplified the rising issue in today’s world of environmental degradation. The materials used to create these outfits come from harmful activities that various industries continue pursuing, leading to the existential crisis of climate change, ruining ecosystems, depleting natural resources, and more.
Moreover, fast fashion is a pertinent issue, which has significant impacts on the environment and society; this was another aspect Fashion for Change discussed. Fast fashion is one of the most polluting industries globally, contributing to high levels of waste and pollution. The fashion industry is also known for exploiting workers in developing countries, paying low wages, and providing workers with poor working conditions. Fashion has the power to influence culture and society, and messages like these convey how essential it is for the fashion industry to take responsibility for its impact on the environment and society. In the Fashion for Change show, a video played in the background, illustrating what the world would become if we continue to follow these unsustainable practices. This gave viewers the element of fear and drive to change our lifestyles if we want a healthy Earth for future generations.
It was an honor to attend Fashion for Change. Not only was the show extremely eye-catching and captivating, but it also delivered several important messages to the audience in an engaging way. I hope to be able to continue to attend this show in the future and learn more about different topics through artistic expressions!