Student Designers Find Many Interpretations for Runway’s 'Reawakening' Theme

One Buffalo State student designer, horrified by what he saw visiting a Chinese garment factory, made jackets, tops, and pants out of old T-shirts. Another wanted to breathe new life into forsaken denim jeans, while yet another felt compelled to pay homage to her heritage with African-inspired designs.

These three designers, along with six others within the Fashion and Textile Technology (FTT) Department, found multiple interpretations on the theme, “REawakening,” for this year’s Runway.

The 12th annual student-run fashion show will be held April 27 at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall. It highlights the juried work of student designers and includes 100 models. Approximately 100 students also work behind the scenes to create the show.

This year, as in recent Runways, students have kept sustainability in mind, to counter the “fast fashion” trend that results in cheap “throwaway” clothing ending up in landfills.

“I took this year’s theme literally. I wanted to give old clothes new purpose,” said Landon Moreis, a senior double major in fashion design and fibers. Moreis traveled to China in May 2018 with a group of FTT students and Lynn Boorady, professor of FTT, Erin Habes, ’03, lecturer of FTT and Runway director, and Jozef Bajus, associate professor of art and design.

“My experience in China has a direct influence on my designs,” he said. “Seeing the factories there and the working conditions inspired me to use only recycled textiles.”

Founded in 2008, Runway provides a professional venue for students enrolled in apparel design, textile design, and fashion show production courses to showcase their talents. Only the best designers are invited by the jury, made up of industry professionals, to participate. The jury also selects first-, second-, and third-place winners.

This year, Runway’s marketing team decided to use several models in a series of black and white photos, rather than just one photo featuring one female model.

“Runway is such a wonderfully diverse and inclusive platform,” Habes said. “We wanted to highlight and expand upon that.”

This year’s show includes a couple of other new additions. The students created a fashion magazine that will feature a photograph of one garment from each senior designer in the show. The magazine will be available for sale at Runway. Also, they’re offering half-priced VIP tickets to alumni. The VIP admission includes reserved seating, access to a private lounge, a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception, and a swag bag.

“We really like to encourage our alumni to return for this special event,” Habes said.

Admission to the 3:00 p.m. show is $10 for students and $15 for the general public. The 8:00 p.m. admission price is $25 general, or $100 for VIP tickets. All proceeds benefit the college’s FTT Scholarship Fund.

Since it began, Runway has raised more than $150,000 in scholarships, endowed three scholarships, and fostered collaborations with Cotton Inc., the Burchfield Penney Art Center, and the Art and Design Department.