This post was updated May 29 at 9:20 p.m.

Fashion and Student Trends at UCLA brought Pauley Pavilion from courtside to couture.

The organization held its spring showcase Friday night, featuring 90 runway models in 15 student-designed collections. Before the doors opened, guests were greeted with pop-ups from FAST’s sponsors, including Depop and Cider, and student vendors such as MySchoolMarket. Holland Smith, a fourth-year ecology, behavior and evolution student who was one of this year’s designers, said the runway represents a year’s worth of work for fashion-inclined Bruins and an opportunity to showcase their work since UCLA does not offer a fashion program.

“This is really the cultivation of all the students who want to pursue fashion design as a career,” Smith said. “That’s what you get to see throughout this entire year, that we’ve been creating these pieces.”

The pre-show featured videos of the designers explaining their collections accompanied by b-roll of their designs. Donning complementary green gowns, fourth-year psychobiology student Chizaram Iwuanyanwu and fourth-year film student Isabel Spooner Martinez, who are FAST’s co-presidents, welcomed audiences by emphasizing the efforts of the 15 committees. Natalie Hunt, a first-year political science student and member of the film committee, said she enjoys the organization because it provides her with a distinct outlet to apply her creative skills.

The show began with third-year mechanical engineering student Cole Mueller’s “Antenna.” Six models strutted down the runway in vibrant casualwear to hyperpop music. Second-year pre-business economics student Ethan Cortez’s “Part-Time Plastic Company: Human Resources” consisted of black and gray hoodies emblazoned with the line’s logo. However, the last model donned a yellow piece, eliciting applause. 

[Related: FAST 2023: Holland Smith adapts fashion skills to create ‘Evolution of Theory’ collection] 

Third-year economics and philosophy student Ashley Chen and third-year geography/environmental studies and sociology student Nancy Nan’s “Fetale” contrasted the previous loungewear lines. The first model sported a heart-shaped pink top and matching skirt. Following two colorful designs, the fourth model appeared in an all-black two-piece set, marking a shift from a feminine to an androgynous style. The last half of the set featured a darker palette embellished with flouncy skirts and a pair of wings.  

“Rebelle: Volume 2,” by second-year mathematics/economics student Gersha Jagwani and fourth-year psychology student Shasta Bowen, followed. Strutting down the runway, the models shimmered in sheer fabrics inspired by pop star concert outfits, such as those of Beyoncé – whose hit “ALIEN SUPERSTAR” opened their set – and Lady Gaga. 

These flashy pieces were counterbalanced by the floral collections of “Mayest” and “Evolution of Theory,” designed by third-year environmental science student Samantha Low – who is also a Data staffer for the Daily Bruin – and Smith, respectively. Smith, who also designed for last year’s show, said he was grateful for the camaraderie within FAST and the audience’s enthusiasm throughout the night. 

“I spent the last half of the runway show in the crowd, which I hadn’t done last year,” Smith said. “It was really amazing to be able to see the pieces for what they were on the show rather than just hearing the crowd’s response.”

First-year design media arts student Rafael Larrañaga’s “Epitaph” line paid homage to his Inglewood roots and Chicano heritage through subtle touches, such as a print of Our Lady of Guadalupe hidden under a jacket, and bold statements, such as a jacket emblazoned with “INGLEWOOD” across the front.

Multiple designers touched upon sustainability. Fourth-year computational and systems biology student Kristi Le’s collection “Encore” consisted of reusable dresses featuring chokers made out of ties. Third-year Spanish and community and culture student Lisbeth Rodriguez’s collection “Unique” incorporated mundane materials. One model donned a skirt made out of copies of the Daily Bruin, while another’s dress was made of deflated white balloons. 

[Related: FAST 2023: UCLA student-models share experiences in fashion before runway]

Fourth-year sociology student Gabriel Discipulo’s designs, titled “PCH CARFIRE,” opened with menacing Nightcore beats. With dark eyeliner and glowers to match, the models stalked down the runway dressed in angular black clothing that was accentuated by the music choices. As the sixth model turned to exit the catwalk, he yanked his hood up, akin to a boxer entering a ring.

“Haus of Utopia,” designed by Bisola Amudipe and Iwuanyanwu, brought home a tribute to Afrofuturism. With Maya Angelou’s poem “Love Liberates” as an intro, Iwuanyanwu and third-year pre-international development studies student Amudipe honored Nigeria with a green and ivory crochet dress in reference to the country’s flag. Futuristic elements involved silver chrome boots, sunglasses and iridescent fabrics. 

The final collection, “Epilogue,” featured a collaboration between fourth-year computational and systems biology student Ella Schindler and fifth-year aerospace engineering student Maxwell Manning. Their haute take on dystopia included the designers modeling their own designs. Schindler walked in a gray fur cape with an icy-blue lining and Manning wore crocheted black sleeves meant to emulate “Blade Runner.”

To close off the evening, the designers were introduced in rapid succession, followed by FAST’s executive board, set to “Xtasy” by Ravyn Lenae. Iwuanyanwu and Spooner Martinez returned to thank the audience, receiving loud applause and cheers in return. Spooner Martinez said she was grateful for the FAST members who made the annual event possible. 

“Ever since my senior year of high school, when I clicked on FAST at UCLA’s Instagram account, I knew I wanted to be a part of this community,” she said. “Thank you for allowing me to work alongside all the creators.”