Let me begin by saying I did not expect to be the one writing this. At all. Yet here I am, one week after writing the other article, gladly talking about an event that happened on the evening (7:30pm) of March 22nd, because I liked it. Here’s the context.
Another member was supposed to go see this event, but at the last minute, we found out he couldn’t go anymore…so then our EIC (I’m really gonna miss you Athavan!) asked if anyone would be available to go. Around that time, I had just finished work, and gone to Campus Pizza to order a Large Canadian Pizza. I saw the message, and figured someone else would ask to go, right? By 5:40 (deadline to reply was 6), no one had answered back. So, since I had nothing to do that weekend (which is a lie, I had to start and finish the final PD19 assignment), I said I would go, a decision I do not regret.
Let’s get into the details. The fashion show I went to see was called Arcana, put on by Fashion for Change (FC). FC has been around for 15 years now, and as the name suggests, they are a non-profit organization that annually hosts the largest student-run charity fashion show in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. Every year, they partner with a new charity, and this year’s charity was oneROOF Youth Services, who support youth aged 12-25 in the Waterloo Region facing homelessness.
My idea of a fashion show, which I got from watching TV shows (not at all about fashion) was the walk-down-the-aisle type. My mind was set and 100% expecting to see a walk-down-the-aisle show. What I saw was not just a walk-down-the-aisle; it was a masterpiece.
The theme of Arcana, being tarot cards, inspired by Alice in Borderland’s playing card levels, was already a nudge that the show was going to be interesting. A few seconds later, when I saw the word ”Choreographer” in the program, is when I instantly knew I no longer knew what to expect. And with no idea what the next 2 hours were going to be like, the lights went dark, smoke rolled in, and a lady hidden in the smoke read…a poem? The ambience was set for something out of this world…
The show itself was a mix of the walk-down-the-aisle…and dances! Stylish, exciting walk-down-the-aisles, and very, very good dances, with very, very good music for all the scenes. There were 10 scenes, with the actions and clothing for each based on one or multiple tarot cards (e.g. the first scene was The Moon, the Star, and the Sun). Even though I already had the program to see what the performers could be wearing for each scene, it was just so much better in person. Cue the music, cue the flashing lights, and with stylish entrances, my eyes were glued to the stage (the Hagey Hall theatre). And then the swords…I love swords. I LOVE swords. So I was surprised and overjoyed, right from the 2nd scene, to see a sword wielder. Though my fun wouldn’t be over, because swords, in increasing number every time, came back for other scenes, their final appearance being in a dance number with all the dancers having swords!!!! (The smoke and poem at the beginning was an awesome ambience setter, but the swords are what got my excitement…) The entire show was great, culminating in one amazing final scene (The Cursed), a shoutout, and then all of things, Psy’s Gangnam Style for the curtain call.
Now, having taken Visual Arts in Grade 9 (even though I explicitly asked to be in the photography class that previous summer), I can’t discuss art without delving into its purpose, and that’s especially important for FC. While helping charity is their main goal, the other side to it is empowering students by letting them showcase their artistic creativity and talents. FC may have done its show at UW, but it was a joint dedicated effort from UW, Laurier, and Conestoga students. Long story short, all the performers were amazing, and every number of every scene has its charms, whether the stylish clothes worn by models and dancers; the passionate walks down the aisle, with a flair I could feel every time a model was walking or turning around; the way the models perfectly showed off the clothes not just being walking around, but by interacting in some sort of little skit, or for the dance numbers, just being great dancers…Basically, they did not hold back, and the result, as I said, was a masterpiece. I came in with an expectation, and they went and completely destroyed my expectations, offering something a million times better than what I could think up at the moment. Just anyone doing a charity show is nice, but students from 3 different post-secondary institutions (whom I assume are already pretty busy), working together with dedication and incredible effort to prepare and perform an expectation-defying fashion show to support a noble cause, while showcasing their impressive creativity, talents, and passion for art – that’s what I truly admire about Fashion for Change.
Finally, I have to mention that they were really kind people. Near the midpoint of the show, they gave time for the Executive Director of oneROOF to have a little talk with the audience about what her charity does. At the end of the show, they had a shoutout for all the FC members that were graduating this year (it made me a bit nostalgic, as last year the director of our high school play did the same thing). Point is, their hearts weren’t just in the fashion show, but also for each other, for the audience that came to see and support them, and for all the people they want to help.
I really can’t describe everything I felt and saw and learned in one article (and I also don’t want to write a novel), so next year, I highly suggest doing your research to find out when the next show is going to be, so you can go see for yourselves (you won’t regret it!). FC have an Instagram @FashionforChange, a Facebook @Fashion For Change, and an email fcatuw@gmail.com (please don’t harass them with billions of emails). Meanwhile, I’m also counting on you morally bound readers to research oneROOF and find a way to support them. Until then, FC just started a magazine for their 15th anniversary, which I recommend checking out (especially if you missed the show). On that note, I wish you all a fun summer, and see you again soon!
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