Wrap-Up: A Year of Golden Ended with MN Fashion Week
6PM at the Foshay. As the MN Fashion Week Season came to a close, our Golden Magazine production team decided to put together a project of our own: the “Dare 2 Be Golden” fashion show, our second collaboration with MN Fashion Week, was a project of massive proportion. Complete with skylights and soaring ceilings, the runway snaked down a massive staircase and around several rows of chairs within the Foshay, which was filled with an atmosphere bordering between panic and giddy satisfaction. The show was an honor to host, created as an avenue to showcase independent designers in the Twin Cities area, with over half of the nine designers being current students at the University of Minnesota. As we took to the upstairs to speak to the models, designers, and Golden staff who anxiously awaited the display, we noticed a certain air of excitement: something important was happening, and it was really special.
Pre-Show:
We trailed up the ornate Foshay staircase, where the stylists and models were found hard at work preparing for the showcase. Golden Magazine stylist and UMN fashion student Anna Keith helped answer several questions we had about styling, saying she helps “curate the ideations of the hairstyles as well as the makeup looks and the overall accessories and garments.” She also described a bit of the styling process, saying that Golden stylists typically try to source materials through peers, themselves, or past brand collaborators.
She reported feeling very connected to the fashion program here at the U due to the small graduating class. The intimate class sizes help with making connections, and everyone is very supportive of each other's new ideas and creativity.
In total, she styled five looks for the show, which kept everything running smoothly and according to plan.
Designers:
Within the show nine designers were showcased, including four student designers from UMN: Jaylee Rosand, Kylie Halvaerson, Neema Mochoge, and Erin Briggs. From the community were independent designers Florence Gbondo, Maly Her, Satiya Amporful, Isabel Atkinson, and Sandra Ortega.
During the pre-show rush we secured an interview with independent designer Florence Gbondo, the owner of Shop With Flo, LLC. In our interview, she named the main influence on her collection, as well as the purpose of her brand as a whole, as women’s empowerment. It’s about fighting against the grain. She asserts that you can be “that girl” while showing that you mean business—and she truly does. The designs on her website are nothing short of stunning and have the potential to become my new favorite dress shop.
Gbondo believes that the Minneapolis fashion scene is becoming more open, and describes hope for more connection in the industry: “I just want us to have more events where we can all meet each other and get to know each other because at the end of the day we’re all working together. We're all in the same industry. And no matter who you are: designers, models, makeup artists, stylists, we should all come together and make other events other than just meeting up at fashion shows.”
Isabelle Atkinson designed a beautiful storytelling collection, showing their own personal journey as a stylist. After graduating from college they felt confident, but upon moving to Milwaukee felt that a lack of industry stifled her growth. Because of this, she watched everything crumble but ultimately come back together for the better. In her collection, “it starts with the first look, which is very simple—very clean cut, business-like, a lot of blazer moments. And then as it goes on it becomes more disheveled, but still really beautiful…it's the story of how you can have a plan. But it'll become completely disrupted. But it's still good the way it turns out.”
Atkinson stated that the twin cities fashion scene is expanding and that they are excited to see it grow.
Student designer Jaylee Rosand’s collection showcased an interesting divide. One of the overarching themes is highly influenced by the late bustle era and historical fashion with a 90’s runway twist, giving subtle nods specifically to Galliano Dior and Vivienne Westwood. Another theme puts a modern twist on Korean culture.
Rosand one piece that she believed really displayed her twist on classic Korean clothing, a patterned jacket that’s inspired by East Asian writing characters put together. Though the stunning pattern appears to show a message, Rosand stated that, “It doesn't actually mean anything… to the naked eye to someone who doesn't speak one of those languages. It looks like it could be, but it doesn't mean shit.”
This is Rosand’s first fashion show ever, but it was truly impressive. The progression and flow of her pieces was quite natural, and each piece had an elegance that was undeniable. The vintage influences she described in the interview were displayed beautifully on the runway, and the models really captured the attitude of the 90’s. Rosand said that she really hopes to do more shows in the future, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
Vendors:
This year the Golden decided to their fashion show to a new level by including several local fashion brands. Each pop-up shop featured unique and compelling pieces specific to their brand before the fashion show’s start. The 2023 Dare To Be Golden Fashion Show included none other than Saja, Dare to Darling, and Haviq. Saja, founded and run by Ani, features eye-catching nostalgic clothing for all the “hotties” out there. Did I mention they are also size-inclusive?! Saja can be found on Instagram @shopsaja.co or in person at several pop-up shops in the future.
Dare to Darling is a handmade knitwear brand showcasing the creative works of Susan, who only began crocheting eight months ago, (and it’s already safe to say she is a master at her craft!). Check out the amazingly intricate Dare to Darling pieces on Instagram @daretodarling or at pop-up shops in Minneapolis and soon Chicago! Last but not least, Haviq’s owner Isaac creates one-of-a-kind denim looks in addition to graphic T-shirts and more. Isaac started his brand because he simply wanted to wear his clothes, something that was just him. You can check out Haviq on Instagram @haviq.us or at house shows and pop-ups around the city.
Show:
After people had finished shopping at the pop-ups, they lined up to enter the venue. The Dare to Be Golden Catwalk housed within Foshay Tower featured a grand staircase with a walkway seamlessly woven into the audience. The show began with Golden’s Editor-in-Cheif and Creative Director introducing each collection’s theme as they MCed the event. As each design moved through the audience, a live DJ played music specifically selected to represent the collection’s theme. Halfway through the show, the audience was blessed with an intermission to remember as El-Sara Duopo graced the runway with her angelic vocals.
After the break, the fashion show commenced, and the other half of the designer’s collections made their way onto the runway. Each design was unique from the next and just as eye-catching as the one before. Every design received welcome applause and cheers from the audience. It’s safe to say that the energy was present. As the show concluded, all the collections walked through the runway once more and received their final applause. After the collections and designers completed their final walk-through, the audience bestowed a standing ovation upon the designs and designers before they danced their way out to the music flowing from the DJ booth. And with that, the Dare to Be Golden Fashion Show had successfully concluded.
Golden Year Wrap-Up:
As the year wraps up, we would like to take the time and space to recognize the hard work and dedication of all the Golden Magazine Staff. Throughout this past year, Golden has set and achieved various goals thanks to the ambition of the Golden Staff. We have successfully executed several photoshoots for the fourth issue surrounding music, technology, fashion, and movement themes. We have held several engaging and community-building staff socials. Thanks to the unique designs of the Graphic Design Team, Golden released their very own merch. Golden hosted their one-night-only Club Golden to celebrate the release of the fourth issue. Lastly, Golden partnered with MNFW to hold their own Dare to Be Golden Fashion Show. Thank you to all the Golden Staff who helped make some serious magic this year!
