A bold new chapter with creation for the Fashion Club and its ambitious founder is making waves at the end of the year with a fashion show. The fashion show was held Friday, May 9, in Gold House at 7 p.m..

 “Honestly, I was kind of against it [at first],” sophomore and co-president Sophia Slaughter said. “The timing was difficult and knowing me, I would want to go all out.”

Despite Slaughter’s initial hesitation, the enthusiasm of other club members won her over, emphasizing the importance of inspiring young people to realize they can achieve big things.

 “I decided we were going to persevere,” Slaughter said. “We would find a way to make it work.”

Originally the idea had surfaced early in the year during conversations with senior Ava Gonzalez, the co-president, but wasn’t revisited seriously until December. Slaughter described the planning process as being both rewarding and frustrating. The club’s presidents stressed that the bigger struggle was battling perfectionism and learning to be flexible.

 “We’d also kind of taken this pressure off ourselves that it had to be perfect because being a first-year club, it does not have to be perfect at all,” Slaughter said. 

Slaughter’s ultimate vision for Fashion Club is really about its community, though.

“I don’t want it to just be a club,” Slaughter said. “I want it to be a place where people can grow, get inspired and realize they can actually do this.”

 The fashion show was designed to be more than just a showcase of clothes. After the runway portion, guests had the chance to meet and talk with designers and models, learning about the creative decisions behind each outfit. From thread choices to stitching techniques, Slaughter wanted people to appreciate the intricate artistry that goes into fashion design, so that people left feeling energized to pursue their own creative projects. 

“It’s not just about fashion, It’s about getting inspired,” Slaughter said. “We are the future, whether it’s fashion, politics, service, anything. We need to start building our future now.”

Beyond the clothes and creativity, the show was about inclusion and self expression, expressing their diversity through the show and their club members. 

“There are tons of different races, colors, shapes and sizes,” senior Lennon Duff said. “I think the club wanted to show that anyone can be in fashion.”