Strutting their stuff on campus

Thirty minutes prior to last Friday's runway show on campus, models, designers and directors were running around, finishing up hairstyles and checking clothes.

But just past seven, once the DJ started the music and the audience - dressed up for the occasion - had been seated, the spotlight came on and the models strutted along the runway under white tents set up in Wynn Commons.

Carnaval - the fifth anniversary fashion show for Penn's fashion society Dzine2Show - marked the final event of Fashion Week, which began last Sunday. It was organized by Dzine2Show, Wharton Retail Club and Delta Sigma Pi fraternity.

The goal of the week was to expose students to opportunities in the fashion industry, said President of Dzine2Show and College senior Lea Artis, who directed Fashion Week. Having been "the kid with too many clothes," she has always been interested in fashion.

Artis and 22 other student designers showcased their designs, totalling about 140 different pieces.

During the show, model and Wharton and Engineering junior Andrea Biernat described the backstage area as "crazy."

She said that her thoughts were completely preoccupied with getting down the runway and then changing as fast as possible into her next outfit.

"To be honest, I don't think much," when I'm walking down the runway, she added.

With colorful ribbons hanging from the tent rooftops and fluorescent feathers adorning the eyelashes and hair of the models, the show successfully captured the carnival-like atmosphere.

Although the show itself had a set theme, the student designers were not hemmed in by that when designing clothes.

"We wanted them to be really innovative and have no creative boundaries" Artis said.

As a result, each designers' clothes were varied in style. Designer and College sophomore Ashley Alden featured a more casual collection, with her models strutting in trainers, while college freshman Adelene Tan exhibited oriental-feel designs using colors like gold and soft pink.

The weeks leading up to the show were busy ones for the student designers, particularly those who stitched their own clothes. Artis said that most of the designers have not received any formal training in fashion design.

Other events throughout the week included a keynote speech by Kenneth Cole, a panel discussion on luxury and retail and a make-up workshop.

Erin Armendigner, Managing Director of the Baker Retailing Initiative - a partnership between innovative retailers and the Wharton school - said there is a growing population of students interested in the fashion industry. The week was intended to serve these students who are realizing that there are other successful career alternatives to banking and consulting.

But the other important goal was also just to have fun.

"Most of our events are purely entertaining," Artis said. "To sort of switch the scene at Penn."

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