The Triangle

Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Olivia Garrity

The Arts of Fashion's symposium at Drexel marked a long but rewarding week for all those involved. For fashion design students, it was a week without class and the opportunity to mingle, attend lectures, and immerse themselves in all things fashion design. For various professors, students, and others running the symposium, AoF was a hectic week to show off Drexel, the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, and the fashion design program to the international fashion community. For three Drexel fashion design students it was a chance to display their work and receive recognition for their talent.

In a commendable move, all events except the final fashion show were made free to Drexel students. This opened up the symposium to many more students than those who originally planned to attend and made for an all-together better week.

The student reception Nov. 2 on the 17th floor of Millennium Hall was full of good food, interesting company, and a fantastic view of Philly. Students traveled from around the world for the event and it was very apparent by the various languages filling the air. Interestingly, some students came without any connection to the competition, just a love of fashion and a desire to experience their peers' work.

One of the highlights of the week was the CineToile-series in which multiple films were shown. A short animation entitled "El son del Diablo" was debuted during the event. Created by Liz Goldberg and Cindy Golembuski, the short film was composed of various loosely drawn figures engaged in party scenes and other festive activities. The film was full of energy and spirit and offered Drexel students a chance to see their professors' work. Also shown were two parts of the Sundance Channel documentary "The Day Before" which follows various fashion designers during the 36 hours before their show opens. The two segments on Jean Paul Gaultier's and Karl Lagerfeld's designs for Fendi were engrossing in all their drama and suspense. As it counted down to the shows, there were moments where it was very unclear if the show would be ready to go on as scheduled. These films captured the excitement and fleetingness of fashion.

The pinnacle of the symposium was the final fashion show held on the grand staircase at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The staircase did create some trouble for the brave models that had to navigate up and down it in unwieldy shoes, but with only a few wobbles and no tumbles they were successful. Altogether the event was breathtaking and the PMA set the perfect backdrop for a show filled with so much creativity and energy.

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