Walking into the Buffalo State College Sports Arena on Saturday, April 22 felt a bit like stepping into fashion week. The arena buzzed with an excitement, yet controlled chaos for “Runway 10: Remember | Imagine“.
Before entering the arena, greeters warned press members that it had been a long day for everyone involved, especially the designers. Though tired, the students were collected and poised to lead a well-oiled machine. Behind-the-scenes, makeup artists hastily and deftly applied the last touches to their models. Producers zipped around behind the runway, making sure everyone was in their place and ready to go.
This show was a culmination of months’ work for Fashion and Textile Technology (FTT) students as well as alumni. On the 10th anniversary of the show, “Remember | Imagine,” seemed to be an appropriate theme for many reasons. Alumni brought back their skills for their own collection set, and current students imagined the future beyond Buff State and let their creativity run free.
Buffalo State’s annual student-driven fashion show began back in 2007, after alumna Erin Habes returned to campus as an adjunct professor. Habes says she wanted to bring real-life experiences to the department through the show, as well as international trips.
Through the years, the show had continued to grow, moving from the world-renowned Albright-Knox Art Gallery, to the historic Pierce Arrow Building and finally ending up back home at Buffalo State’s Arena, so it could accommodate thousands.