Everything That Happened at the Stand in Denim Fashion Show
Everything That Happened at the Stand in Denim Fashion Show
By: Aliza Warner
The University’s Rallying Against Sexual Assault (RASA) and Black Fashion Society collaborated to put together the first annual Stand in Denim fashion show in recognition of Denim Day, an annual international event to show support and solidarity for victims of sexual assault.
“Everybody wears denim to kind of bring awareness to victim blaming, and [how] what we’re wearing does not mean consent,” explains Bhakti Patel, a graduate assistant and confidential advocate for the VIP: Survivor Support Services who was one of the many people who helped put together this year’s event.
Bhakti Patel (left) and Christin Dobbs (right).
According to Christin Dobbs, program manager and another confidential advocate for VIP, the many denim outfits encourage more than just awareness but also empower others to wear what they like as clothing never equates to fault. “You can wear whatever you want, and you still don’t deserve any form of violence against you,” said Dobbs.
During the show, there were various arrangements of denim in styling and color, showing that denim is a classic fashion staple. All of the looks were divided into three categories throughout the show: baggy, tight, and statement denim. For the baggy denim portion, the looser silhouette is seen in jackets, vests, and jeans. In the tight denim section, it is not just a display of skinny jeans but other fun ways denim can be used, such as in mini dresses, shorts, or a button-up shirt. The last category, statement denim, displayed encouraging messages on the denim pieces or on the signs the models carried on the runway.
The looks display the range of denim while promoting an important message about sexual violence, once again proving how instrumental fashion can be in furthering and explaining cultural movements.
For future events like these, follow UM RASA on Instagram or Facebook and UM Black Fashion Society on Instagram.
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Photos by Hailey Layne.