The 2012 Asian Kaleidoscope Month Fashion Show was held in the Rion Ballroom Friday at the Reitz. Students gathered an hour before the event, anxious and excited.
Everyone settled in and eagerly waited for the show to begin. The ballroom was packed full of students by the start of the show; but, instead of getting straight to the runway looks, the show kicked off with a performance from Finesse, UF’s Black Student Union’s official dance team. The dancers were a beautiful blur on stage and set the tone for an exciting show.
Models took the runway in looks from Asian-American designers Retrofit Republic, Akufuncture and Lucy Tran. From formal to casual collections, all different styles (and both genders!) were represented on stage.
The emceeing was colorful. The pre-intermission runway model walk competition included amateurs from the crowd, and the AKM king took whipped cream to the face.
Attendees were encouraged to donate to AKM’s philanthropy project, “A Liter of Light.” Guests were shown a brief video demonstrating how the simple materials of bleach, water and one-liter plastic bottles, could grant thousands of homes the ability to have light without using electricity. AKM’s goal was to raise $2,000 over the course of the month to donate to this innovative alternative to traditional electricity. This project tied into the overall AKM theme of “Illuminate.”
Back at the fashion show, Andrea Kaye Espulgar, of West Palm, brought the crowd to its feet with her rendition of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” before directors Kim Dang and Sarah Otsuka were recognized. After the conclusion of the fashion show, guests were invited to enjoy free refreshments and receive gift bags from Abercrombie & Fitch, one of the show’s sponsors. Those interested also had the opportunity to have a meet and greet with the designers whose collections were showcased.
This year’s fashion show successfully promoted Asian-American fashion and its philanthropic efforts. If you were unable to attend the show this year, make sure to mark your calendar for next year’s — it is definitely a UF event collegiettes won’t want to miss!
Here’s a link to the Liter of Light website so you can learn more about the project itself: http://aliteroflight.org/.