TREND brings UA Fashion Week to the catwalk

Among the vast forms of art in the world, inspiration is the common factor. It allows an array of emotions to be showcased and brought to life because of that one-minute thing that caused the artist’s mind to wander. One art form that takes action in this chronology of inspiration is fashion.

A line showcased on a runway is not just a bundle of clothes being randomly displayed. It is methodological and thought out. It has precision and tells a story of the designer’s inspiration.

The TREND Fashion Club at UA is a witness to that chronology and decided to expose it further by creating a fashion week on campus. The club hopes the event will bring knowledge about sustainable fashion, wearable technology, DIY, vendors and the use of creativity, style and vintage. The event is going to feature brands like Fed by Threads, Last Ones Left Apparel, JJ Bikinis, American Monarchy and Pitaya.

Among the people that brought this event to life are Gabriel Nakovich and Jenna DeMaio. Nakovich is a junior majoring in retailing and consumer science and minoring in fashion. He hopes to use his passion to become a creative director for a fashion company.

DeMaio is a sophomore also studying Retailing and Consumer Sciences and minoring in Fashion with hopes of using her determination and creativity to “make a difference in the world of fashion.”

Since both are inspired by the creative process, they recognized the hard work and dedication it would take to make the upcoming event happen.

“In the summer of 2016, I was in a meeting with my president to discuss how to give TREND a lasting legacy here at the UofA and to put TREND on the map,” Nakovich said. “I knew that the Miami University in Ohio threw their own fashion show and I was inspired by them.”

He is the Vice President of TREND and said without his executive board and the club members fashion week wouldn’t be possible.

“My Eboard and I came up with committees for members to get involved,” he said. “Each committee allows members to do what they’re passionate about. I believe my members do it because they realize the potential that fashion week holds for the future of the club.”

The different committees include a music committee, styling/makeup, planning/logistics, video and much more.

DeMaio is also the event coordinator and explains how it’s her duty to come up with events for the club. She wanted to use her extensive fashion background to bring more fashion to both the Tucson and UA communities, and leave the club with a legacy.

“Promotion is key,” DeMaio said. “We sold out of the show in weeks by promoting on the Morning Blend, greek row, all throughout campus and so much more. We got a lot of people to participate by making it a big event, not something small.”

The show has already reached its full capacity and is completely sold out.

With the launch date quickly approaching, Nakovich and DeMaio are looking forward to the outcome.

“I am really looking forward to my dreams and visions becoming a reality,” DeMaio said. “Also, I am really looking forward to making fashion lovers in Tucson happy.”

Nakovich said he is most excited to see the reaction from parents, students and teachers.

“It’s going to be an extremely rewarding event because UA Fashion Week has allowed for my members and myself to grow professionally and creatively,” he said. “It’s all about attitude because if you have the right mindset and attitude, you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.”

Nakovich said he hopes to see Fashion Week grow over the next five years into one of the biggest student-run fashion weeks in the U.S.

UA Fashion Week takes place this upcoming weekend, April 26-29.

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