DANBURY, Connecticut — Western Connecticut State University’s Black Student Union (BSU) will host its annual fashion show at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 29, 2022, in Ives Concert Hall, White Hall, on the WCSU Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. The theme is “Albums of Fashion” and it will be an event that walks attendees through the years. Kwasi Beast will be the host with music by DJ Nitemare. During the event, there will be performers between each segment, including a majorette group. The show is free and open to the public; tickets must be reserved at https://wcsutickets.ticketspice.com/bsu-fashion-show.
“Albums of Fashion” will portray different time periods ranging from the Victorian era to the future. BSU President Zanaya Ritter and club members have worked hard to put the show together since last November. She looks forward to seeing the pieces come to life on stage. “We tried to brainstorm ideas and find ways to bring together the WCSU community,” Ritter said. “We also had to stay true to the Black Student Union, stay true to being Black, and the experience of being Black.”
That is why the BSU decided to create a show that features a collaboration of fashion and music that connects to Black culture. The examples range from the Harlem Renaissance to the 1990s — when, according to Ritter, “the music styles at the time influenced fashion.”
One of the models, Isaiah Tamdji, admires the work that is being done. “I am honored to be a part of the event that presents creativity and knowledge on our fashion over the generations,” Tamdji said. He enjoys walking with models and trying on clothes from designers, a process that makes him “filled with adrenaline,” he explained.
“Seeing something start from scratch and turn into a masterpiece is what I always love being a part of,” Tamdji said. “BSU hopes to inspire others through this show, with the hope that Black culture will become more prominent in the WCSU community.”
To learn more about the Black Student Union, go to www.wcsu.edu/intercultural/student-organizations/. For more information, contact WCSU Public Relations at pr@wcsu.edu.
Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.