Fashion Matters

Living in Los Angeles, the media sensory overload of
conspicuously consuming celebrities can drive students into added
debt for the hottest item on the rack of Fred Segal, or, on the
other extreme, force penny-pinching students to become jaded and
opt for the California uniform of comfortable denim and flip
flops.

For fourth-year sociology student Arthur Pogosian, founder and
president of University of California Fashion and Student Trends
Los Angeles, the universal necessity for clothing is a perfect
medium to raise social awareness.

“So many times fashion people are just seen as types that
don’t care (about what’s going on in the world), but we
do care. My line is about a lifestyle that is much more than
deciding a cute color,” said Pogosian, who encourages club
members to participate in community service.

Pogosian takes inspiration from current events, such as the
bombings in Madrid, gay marriages in San Francisco and
homelessness, culminating into the theme “sangre” for
the fall/winter collection he designed, premiering May 25 at
FAST’s annual fashion show.

FAST, spearheaded by motivational leader Pogosian, is a network
for students interested in fashion to break into the business. Last
year, the organization facilitated an opportunity for aspiring
models to compile a portfolio by providing a stylist and a
photographer. During this past year, potential employers from BCBG
Max Azria, Custo Barcelona and Puma have guest spoken at its weekly
meetings.

The primary project of FAST is the production of a runway show
featuring clothes designed and modeled by students. Aside from
providing contact information and internship opportunities, the
aforementioned labels, along with Nordstrom and Monica’s on
Broxton, have sponsored the organization by providing their
collections to be showcased at the runway show.

“My ability to create a vision has expanded so much more
from being in this organization,” said alumna Jesseca
McNeill, who oversees the makeup and hair production components of
the show.

While Pogosian drew inspiration from world news, McNeill, who
graduated in winter 2004 with a degree in international development
studies, stumbled upon her passion while traveling and experiencing
international culture for her major.

“People interpret clothing differently in every country,
and all the fabrics were so intriguing to me. That’s where I
really made the decision that fashion was what I wanted to
do,” she said.

McNeill’s experiences abroad led her to her calling, but
FAST was essential in stretching her ideas and providing a means to
realize her goals.

The clothing lines in the show are as diverse as the UCLA campus
itself. Kate Duggan, a second-year art history student, designed
vintage re-creations inspired by the paintings of Gustav Klimt and
Edgar Degas, as well as the style of “Sex and the City”
character Carrie Bradshaw, as shown in her scrapbook full of
fashion magazine clippings and fabric swatches. Melissa Maldonado,
a third-year women’s studies student, takes an eclectic
Bohemian style approach, using rusty colors, bottle caps,
hole-punched metallic ribbon and puff paint embellishments as
inspiration.

Aside from occasionally altering an old shirt, this is the first
real technical experience for almost all of the student clothing
designers.

“It’s all been trial and error, and it’s
frustrating because I don’t have any (sewing) experience. But
I know when I see my stuff (on the runway), I’m going to be
excited that I actually did it,” said Maldonado, who decided
clothing design was her passion after having had the opportunity to
design for the FAST fashion show.

Maldonado’s sense of fulfillment and career direction has
been expressed 10 times over by other participants of FAST. A model
in last year’s show, third-year sociology student Marissa
Borelli is designing a “new romantic”-themed line this
year.

“FAST is a little outlet to throw creative talents out
there, because UCLA doesn’t have anything fashion,”
Borelli said.

Other success stories of creative talents include Pogosian, who
will further his design and fashion marketing education by
attending Parsons School of Design in the fall. Duggan, by her own
initiative, secured a summer internship at the Diane von
Furstenberg’s design studio in New York.

Whether the interest for fashion was a mere inkling or a
full-blown lifelong dream, the energy of working with passionate
peers is the greatest inspiration expressed throughout the
organization’s members. Pogosian is ecstatic that he has
helped open eyes to possibilities beyond the lawyer and doctor
stereotypes of career options.

“There are students who want to pursue fashion now, where
before it was a joke to them,” said Pogosian. “It was
just about a shopping spree and now (they see) it’s a serious
business.”