Students strut runway to outmode cancer
By Brett Noble
April 24, 2008 10:37 p.m.
Members of the Iranian Student Group will host their second annual fundraiser fashion show to benefit the Persian American Cancer Institute tonight.
The show begins with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. at the Petersen Automotive Museum on Wilshire Boulevard. The runway show starts at 7 p.m., followed by an after party at Republic.
The price to attend is $35 for students and $55 for regular admission.
The group’s chair, Yasaman Chehroudi, a third-year economics student, planned last year’s fashion show after meeting Hoori Sadler, a UCLA researcher.
Sadler performed research at UCLA on the large numbers of Persians who are diagnosed with cancer. After being diagnosed with breast cancer herself, Sadler decided to found the organization.
Chehroudi thought that a fashion show would be an innovative way to raise money for Sadler’s cause.
“I’d heard about people putting on fashion shows, but we hadn’t seen anything like it in the Persian community, representing our traditions and cultures,” Chehroudi said.
After raising more than $20,000 at the first show, the Iranian Student Group decided to make it an annual event and moved the location to the much-larger Petersen Museum.
Notable young Persian designers who will be presenting their work at the event are Shadi Askari, Reza Zandi, Kouroush Mousavi, Keemia Ferasat, Masih Zad and Elaheh Borna.
While showing a Persian influence, their lines are diverse, featuring calligraphy, street wear, textured latex and bright colors, Chehroudi said. All of the designs will be modeled by Southern California students, including some from UCLA.
In addition to a dance performance by Banafsheh Sayyad and Nammah, world-famous Persian fashion designer Bijan Pakzad will speak.
Pakzad has designed clothing for President George W. Bush and Tom Cruise and owns an exclusive boutique on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.
“He’s given a lot of inspiration to young Persian designers,” Chehroudi said.
Though the show originated at UCLA, most of the 800 guests in attendance at last year’s show were not affiliated with the university, and many Persians living in Los Angeles came out to support a cause for their community.
“A lot of times, people feel closer to their own culture, and having our own organization can really help us address these issues,” said Nasim Razmara, a fourth-year political science student and social chair of the Iranian Student Group.
But the event is also meaningful to those outside the Persian community, including UCLA students, Chehroudi said.
“We want to make sure people can see the rich culture we have while helping a good cause,” Chehroudi said.
For further information about the fashion show and the Iranian Student Group, visit www.uclaisg.com.
