On Friday, Nov. 15, the University of Georgia’s Fashion Design Student Association held their fashion show, “Roadside Attractions: Phenomena of Funhouse,” at The Venue at Aberdeen in Statham, Georgia. The show was complemented by live music, a hotdog stand, several snacks for guests and an outside seating area under glowing lights and a chandelier.
A designer adds finishing touches before the fall Fashion Design Student Association (FDSA) show at The Venue at Aberdeen in Statham, Georgia on Friday, Nov. 15. The show featured collaboration between student designers, models, makeup-artists, composers, and more. (Photo/Lily Perella; @photographylkp)
This semester, 47 students modeled for the show. The event showcased all 47 students in unique looks, with the first appearing in a traditional ringmaster costume, followed by a woman in an all-white dress and several more circus, carnival and roadside-themed styles. Models walked to live music playing in the background, making two rounds before making a third round to walk the runway with their designers. The audience applauded and participants of the show went to meet friends and family and take pictures.
“Roadside Attractions” will be the fourth FDSA show for Jenna Richards, a fashion merchandising student at UGA and an executive production assistant for FDSA. Richards said that she has been interested in fashion since she was a child, but her interest really took off when she began studying visual arts in high school, participating in fashion shows and sewing. She finds most of her inspiration from other creations, especially on Pinterest.
“The circus celebrates what’s uniquely different and beautiful in its own self, which kind of channels into our fashion sense and expressing something that is unique to us,” Richards said.“Whether that be our style, our preferences, just what we think is cool, what might be unusual to other people, and we get to express that relating the circus to fashion.”
A model practices their walk before the fall Fashion Design Student Association (FDSA) show at The Venue at Aberdeen in Statham, Georgia on Friday, Nov. 15. The show’s theme “Roadside Attraction: Phenomena of Funhouse” explored the unique and mysterious characters of a funhouse. (Photo/Lily Perella; @Photographylkp)
Richards said she challenged herself to make three garments in one month as a “fun, personal challenge,” and that she had a great time learning how to make a corset in the process. According to Richards, multiple designers collaborated during their sewing lab hours, which is where she was able to teach others sewing techniques while also learning new techniques herself and meeting new people.,
“Just like education, fashion is a continuous learning cycle,” Richards said. “It’s always something new.”
Kanan Parikh, a vendor for the event and a junior advertising student at UGA, came to the show because she is involved in the fashion world at UGA and had friends on the executive team. As a vendor, Parikh displayed vintage and secondhand pieces and mentioned that she also sold her clothes on Instagram.
Parikh said she was excited to see the fashion looks and talented people showcased.
“I think [this event] will probably inspire people to join FDSA, inspire people to get more involved in fashion clubs, or want to do something creatively. The first fashion show I ever went to at UGA inspired me to get involved in the major and get involved with all the fashion events and clubs on campus,” Parikh said.
Vishwa Patel poses in a design made by Vanessa Gissel during the fall Fashion Design Student Association (FDSA) show at The Venue at Aberdeen in Statham, Georgia on Friday, Nov. 15. The show’s theme “Roadside Attraction: Phenomena of Funhouse” explored the unique and mysterious characters of a funhouse. (Photo/Lily Perella; @Photographylkp)
Ali Hasan, an attendee of the event and computer science graduate student at Georgia State University, said he came to support one of his friends in the show. He found the location, community and people unique, and mentioned he did not know of any other schools that were hosting fashion shows.
“[Roadside Attractions] is going to bring [UGA students and the Athens community] together for a sense of community, as well as for students it gives them something to look forward to,” Hasan said. “If fashion is somewhat of a hobby and they’re not sure if they want to pursue it, this would probably be the pushing point, sort of a motivation for them to pursue it full time or kind of delve deeper into it.”
Richards said FDSA is growing, and Roadside Attractions was one of the largest shows they’ve had. In light of this, she would like for the UGA fashion program to receive more recognition.
“I’d love to see more people coming to our major and [get] larger classes and more activities and things to do, like more professors that can teach us,” Richards said. “There’s so much talent here, and I feel it just doesn’t get recognized because of the size of our groups.”
