{shortcode-599d78baf690fffdc892a4a3250215d735c385d2}Last Saturday, the Identities Fashion Show turned Northwest Labs into a pulsing, energetic center of fashion and student creativity. This Crimson Roving Reporter sat down with several people at the event, exploring the inner mechanics of a fashion show and what goes on behind the models’ flawless smizing.

Cengiz Cemaloglu ’18, creative team member

Roving Reporter: What was your role in Identities?

Cengiz Cemaloglu: I am one of the creative team members for menswear, which involves choosing the clothing, choosing the designers, choosing the models, teaching them how to walk, choosing the themes of the section, choosing the music, and coordinating the logistics of shipping the clothes.

RR: There’s a particular emphasis on China this year. Why is that?

CC: This year’s show has a much more international focus. We wanted to showcase fashion’s global reach—how globalization has caused a dialogue between Chinese and American fashion. Everyone used to look toward what American fashion was and copy it in a way, but now a lot of focus is shifting to Asia, so we wanted to concentrate on that.

RR: The entire world erupts in flames, and you can only save three fashion items. What would they be?

CC: Definitely not underwear.... I think high heels are very aesthetically pleasing—they look good on everyone. I think it’s a strange thing to say, but I also really like the Turkish style of hijab. [Lastly,] dress shirts. I think dress shirts make a statement, and they also make you feel very important about yourself.

Garrett C. Allen ’16, model

RR: Can you tell me a little bit about what you’re wearing?

Garrett C. Allen: I’m wearing a long dress shirt with a ton of multi-colored rhinestones. It’s really heavy, surprisingly. It glistens and glitters—I would wear it to class. It’s comfy, I could fall asleep in section if I needed to, and [I would] wake up and sparkle. I’m also very excited for my motorcycle gear section—there’s lots of leather, and the designer even had us carry motorcycle helmets.

RR: What was the hardest part about training for this show?

GCA: We’ve been here since 10 a.m., first of all. And although it seems easy—it’s just walking—it turns out that walking is hard and it takes a lot of skill. The motorcycle gear designer was very particular about what he wanted—he wanted us to look very natural. You’re not marketing yourself, you’re marketing clothes. He was very particular about how to hold the helmets. But it all falls into place. This is my second and last year doing it, and I wished I did it the other years because it’s really fun. It’s a really nice group of people and I really love all the board members and creative designers. I really like fashion myself so it’s really cool to do something so fashion-centric on campus.

Katie G. Tutrone ’17, model

RR: Can you tell me about what you’re wearing?