It is Fashion Week in Auburn.
The annual CADS & AMDA Fashion Event took place Friday night, April 22, featuring original designs created and crafted by students in the apparel design program and modeled by Auburn students.
This year’s theme, “Art in Fashion,” was the signature student design exhibition, planned and designed by apparel students, per the official website.
The event took place inside the Coliseum, including a live runway show, exhibits from student work and interior design projects.
The event was carefully planned by students enrolled in a yearlong course, “serving as an extensive training tool, exposing students to different roles in the fashion industry needed to produce top quality fashion events,” per the official website.
Angelique Cabanero, senior in apparel merchandising and president of the Apparel Merchandising and Design Association, said preparing for the show was an exciting and exhausting process for the students involved.
“The Fashion Event is planned by the Fashion Event Planning class. This class is a 2-semester-long commitment,” Cabanero said. “The first semester is all about ironing out the details of the theme, shooting photos for promotion, and fundraising for the event. The second semester is all about logistics and planning all the specific details for the show.”
Cabanero said while the process has kept her busy this year, she is grateful to have the opportunity to work for something she is so passionate about.
“The Fashion Event has been such an amazing opportunity for me to gain hands-on experience that I know will help prepare me for the industry after graduation,” Cabanero said.
Audrey Charlynn, junior in apparel design, is one of the creative designers with work featured in the show.
“I have five of my own pieces in the show this year, and some are personal projects that I worked on over the span of a week or two,” Charlynn said. “Other designs are class projects that took almost a month to go from concept to creation. No matter how long each design takes, it is always so magical to see them go from an idea in my mind to a wearable garment.”
Charlynn said she was most excited to display the designs to fellow Auburn students and members of the community.
Kinsey Pastore, junior in apparel merchandising, said she was excited about the theme of the show and the opportunity to add a creative, innovative element to classic art.
“I am most excited for this year's audience to see the creative twist our entire Apparel program has turned on the beloved form of classical artwork,” Pastore said. “From the decorations to the color scheme, to the garments the audience will see on the runway, it has been incredible to see everyone interpret what the connection between art and fashion means to them."
Pastore said that she is also excited to bring the event back as a live show for the first time since 2019, after hosting it virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is the first time many Auburn students will be able to experience a live runway show,” Pastore said. “If you have not had the opportunity to experience a live fashion event, this event is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as it is produced at the professional level in our beloved college town.”
Charlynn said she was excited for attendees to see these individuals' art through their garments and design.
“Their designs are truly art in motion,” Charlynn said. “Each garment is a stunning display of the creative talent we are cultivating here at Auburn University, and specifically in the apparel design program.”
Cabanero said she is most excited to have the opportunity to spread creativity and show the community how talented the program really is.
“With it being such a small program, it is very easy for our department to be overlooked,” Cabanero said. “I know after this record-breaking show, everyone will know Auburn as a fashion school.”
Currently, the apparel design and merchandising program here at Auburn is ranked first in the SEC and the interior design program is ranked ninth in the nation, so it seems Cabanero’s hope is coming true.
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Kara Mautz, senior in human development and family studies with a minor in journalism, is a culture writer at The Auburn Plainsman.
