Year of the
Innovator was the theme at the annual Runway fashion show hosted by the Fashion
and Textile Technology department of Buffalo State College. The central theme
of Innovation aimed to give everyone a chance to see the world in a new light
and expand the possibilities. Runway 8.0 allowed faculty, staff and students to
combine their creativity and originality to produce designs that were beyond average.
The show took place Saturday, April 25, 2015.
Buffalo
State’s Social Hall was transformed into a sleek runway show with dim, colorful
lights and large projectors that featured different graphics throughout the
show. Alongside side the central stage were light fixtures in twisted shapes
that went from floor to ceiling. The runway was also illuminated with overhead
lights as models walked down the cat walk.
Cierra
Johnson from WKBW Channel 7 Eyewitness News was the emcee for Runway’s 8 P.M.
show and opened the show with a cheerful attitude in her colorful dress.
Runway 8.0
featured collections from faulty member David Brinson, the Teacher’s College of
Beijing Union University, the FinnFest Project, and from Buffalo State’s very
own students and seniors.
The show
also featured over 35 designs with individual collections from students and
designers. There were more than 100 models walking.
The show
commenced with loud, thumping music as each model walked down the runway with
their hand-made gowns and high heels. Each model’s hair and makeup was styled
to perfection.
Each
collection was unique and had unpredictable twists. One collection tried to
integrate the use of zippers in the dresses while another combined lingerie
into everyday wear. One designer even created a dress that lights up in the
dark.
The senior
designers segment of the show featured a short clip of each senior describing
their inspiration for their collection and what the theme, innovation, means to
them.
At the
conclusion of the show, awards were given to several students, which included
First Place Senior Collection, Second Place Senior Collection, Best in Show,
and Best Student Collection Award.
Senior
Elizabeth Knights took home the First Place Senior Collection while Francine
Saternus won second place. Best in Show went to Hannah Trainer and Jose Moscoso
and his plus design took the Best Student Collection Award.
After the
show, Jose Moscoso and his model and best friend, Nicole Stayton, shared their
experience participating in Runway 8.0.
“It started
off with a painting I did,” he said. “It kind of just came to me. I made a
painting and I just threw red, blue, and yellow colors on a plain canvas and
those colors just stood out so much to me and it dissolved into I want to make
a collection where it’s mostly primary colors on black and white.”
Moscoso was
the only designer in the show to feature a plus model, however, he says it was
unintentional: “I didn’t think about it. I was just like ‘Oh, you would fit
this outfit perfectly.’” He also described how he was designing the garment,
and Stayton had come to mind.
Stayton also
chimed in, offering praise for her best friend: “I think that’s a good thing
about Jose as a designer. He doesn’t look at people for their size, he looks at
how a garment will fit or will fit their personality. That’s why when people
were going up to him and everyone was saying ‘Oh, you have the only plus size
model in the show,’ it wasn’t something he was thinking about.”
Stayton also
described her feelings leading up to the show because she was the only plus
model. “I was a little nervous. It was something that I didn’t really notice,
but I guess everyone else was noticing.”
She also
added, “I just want it to be fashion. Whether you have someone that’s a size 14
on the runway or a size 0, why does it have to be different? Why can’t it just
be ‘Oh my God, look at her outfit’ and not have to be about ‘Oh, she’s plus
size’ and ‘Oh, she’s skinny.’ Everyone is beautiful whether you’re skinny or
whether you’re a size 14.”
Overall,
both Moscoso and Stayton had a great experience with the show and would do it
again the next day if they had the chance.
Buffalo
State’s Runway 8.0 Innovation show gave all the students, faculty and staff the
chance to showcase their talents and work hard.
“I just feel
like we all had so much fun. It was a little hectic and it got kind of crazy,
and there was confusion at times, but I feel like it just all worked out so
well,” Moscoso described.