Fashion Fusion
Fashion? Oh, that thing that other people think about in the big wide world? No, we don’t do that here. York just doesn’t seem to care. It is a bubble of comfort and warmth, where the sports club or society hoodie, be it Fruit of the Loom or not, is an intrinsic part of the student wardrobe. For the third year about to leave University, the prospects of having to actually wear clothes that are not emblazoned in some way with ‘The University of York’, seems almost as monumental a challenge as finding that ever illusive graduate job.
The biggest indoor charity event that the University has ever seen.
But there is a new society on campus that is keen to dispel our ‘University of Dork’ status and renew our interest in all things fashionable. You may have seen the posters, cryptically announcing that “Fusion is coming”, but it will actually arrive on Friday 25th February when the society really proves what it can do. Aiming to fill Central Hall in what their Press and Publicity Officer, Donna Griffiths, thinks will be “the biggest indoor charity event that the University has ever seen,” Fusion are planning a fashion show which promises to be a unique evening unlike anything ever seen on campus before.
The idea for the event began two years ago when Linguistics Student, Mariam Ahmed, began hypothesising to her friends about putting on a fashion show for charity. Although ideas flew around at great pace it was not until October last year that Fusion became a fully ratified society and began seriously organising the show which is now only two weeks away. With over a hundred members, all involved in Week 7’s show, Fusion aims to become an annual event. Donna explained that the main aim of Fusion is “to put on events for charity that involve all the societies on campus.” Apart from nights such as Access all Areas in Freshers Week, it is a concept which has been noticeably under exploited at the university.
Working with choreographers from Dancesoc, DJs from Platinum Soc and hopefully music from a live jazz band, Fusion have gone some way to filling that gap in the Ents calendar. Fusing the funky urban rhythms of the Platinum DJs with a live performance from indie band The Real Tuesday Weld, whose single ‘Bathtime in Clerkenwell’ is in the charts at the moment, the show aims to be able to cater for an eclectic crowd.
The AU’s most recently ratified club, Pole Dancing society will also be taking part. Hiring special poles for the performance, it will be a chance for them to show campus the moves they practice three times a week behind closed curtains in Goodricke dining room.
It’s been a nightmare. At one point they said you can have people modelling and you can have music, but just not at the same time.
A parade of glamorous models in outrageously bizarre outfits that no right-minded person would ever fit into, let alone want to buy, may seem somewhat alien to the penny-pinching student. However, Donna told nouse that Fusion will be a “catwalk show with a twist.” The audience will watch sixty-eight models dance their way through twelve scenes of street, hip hop and R&B music with a distinctly urban feel. Although there will be outfits on display from a few small York boutiques such as Escape, many of the clothes being modelled will be from high-street stores. Shops such as Miss Selfridge, Oasis, Free Spirit, Fat Face and Chilli Pepper are opening their doors for the models and choreographers to choose clothes from their latest ranges. It is an approach which may bring in some of the more sceptical amongst York’s students, who may have been put off by the idea of a pretentious catwalk session.
However, there will be something for everyone and perhaps the most dazzling of the evening’s twelve scenes of dancing and modelling, will be the display of a range of hats by Elizabeth Parker. Previously having designed elaborate headwear for members of Faithless and Goldfrapp, these hats promise to be the most decadently fashionable pieces on display. A few students have designed outfits that will be included in the show and their work will be for sale through the free programme. Although only a small element of the evening, their presence will lend an extra touch of student-bred creativity to the event which might otherwise seem like a trip to your local high street.
It is the venue which will make the show stand out. With the exception of the campus musical each year, there are precious few student-orientated events which take place in the sinking spaceship which is Central Hall. Donna lamented at the trouble the society had been through in order to get a licence for the event, which at first seemed like it might not be possible. “It’s been a nightmare. At one point they said you can have people modelling and you can have music, but just not at the same time.” The problems are all smoothed over now and the event is definitely going ahead. Yet again it begs the question of a central campus venue capable of holding large scale events. With plans for Heslington East looking decidedly conference orientated, it is an issue that will continue to resurface.
Aiming to raise £5,000 for its two nominated charities, the Leukaemia Research Fund and Medical Aid for Iraqi Children, Fusion is nothing if not ambitious. Filling Central Hall is always a daunting prospect, and at £5 a ticket with 1000 seats available there is no room for error. But with corporate sponsorship for the event coming from KPMG, Fusion looks like a well-presented package. There has been no lack of enthusiasm from any of the businesses approached about the project, with designers leaping at the chance to get their clothes modelled by students on York’s campus. The interest in the event has spread quickly in the world beyond Heslington with an article in the Evening Press and more regional news hopefully on its way.
Yet it is the apathy of the student audience which may be Fusion’s biggest hurdle. Donna is convinced that the event will be a success. “There has been quite a lot of buzz about it around campus and with a big poster and flyer campaign in the next few weeks, I’m confident we can fill Central Hall.” On novelty value alone the seats may sell out quickly; however it is still a risky business holding a fashion show in York. The day will tell whether it is perhaps too enthusiastic an undertaking, organised in too short a time span. Or maybe the society will be able to reinvigorate a sense of style in our students which has become dormant since their arrival in York.
Designers on Display:
Miss Selfridge
Oasis
Mode in Pele
Free Spirit
Fat Face
Chilli Pepper
Suits You
Digbys
Elizabeth Parker
Escape
LINKS
Visit Fusion’s website at http://www.yorkfusion.org/
