Bryan Cole/ The Collegian

Student’s prepare for catwalk

In tune with diversity week, local designers, some who are alumni of the university, will be displaying their original fashions and accessories at Fresno State’s first fashion show hosted by USU Productions.

Fashion Fusion will start at 7 p.m. on April 28 in the Satellite Student Union, where a 24-foot catwalk will be erected.

Fresno State’s own dance group BDX will be the opening performance, DJ Nebie will be spinning tracks for the models to strut to during the show and the intermission will feature R&B artist Mateo.

The goal though, is to place the emphasis on the design. “We do have a diverse array of clothing and talent here, we’ll just be showcasing that,” senior Carolyn Harris, an interior design major and coordinator of the show, said.

Seventeen designers are scheduled to feature not just clothing, but hair, hats, jewelry and make-up. The designers are limited to eight to 12 looks for the two hour show; Harris said there may only be time for eight, but they want the designers to be prepared if there is time for more.

Bryan Cole / The Collegian

The creator of Private Plane Originals, Falina Marihart, got most of their contacts [designers] for them, Harris said, “so, that has been the easy part, she kind of did all the work for us.”

Fellow coordinator and junior Dalitso Ruwe, a cultural anthropology major, contacted Marihart because of the fashion event she hosts in the Tower District called the Fashion Style Lounge. Marihart created the lounge to give indie designers and beauty gurus a place to flaunt their goods in a party-like atmosphere.

Marihart designs classic looking hats with a modern twist and is just one of several Fresno State alumni involved with the show. She is still working on new styles for 2010.

“It’s really hard when you first start out, so you need all the help and breaks you can get to launch a brand and hopefully be successful with it,” Marihart said.

Other alumni who are participating as designers in the show include Courtney Griffin and her Stickie Brand Clothing designs, and Alana Little and her brand Make Pie Not War.

“They are going to have to play off of each other and kind of work together,” Harris said of the designers and their various fashions.

Ruwe screened all the models for the show. There will be a total of 32 models, both male and female with the majority being students.

There will be only one opportunity for a dress rehearsal, the Sunday before the show. It will run all day Harris said, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Each designer is allowed to recommend a style of music they would like to accompany their design, but Harris and Ruwe will have the final say on the music played.

All participating designers will have free space available offstage to sell their merchandise. There will also be space provided for vendors who are not participating in the show, but would like to display and/or sell their products during the event.

Harris said a fashion merchandising major from Fresno State will also be at the show, not as a designer, but just to display the Bohemian fashions from her own closet.

Refreshments will also be made available.

Tickets for the show are $7 for the public and $5 for students with a valid school ID.