The oh so fashionable evening of May 6 brought a plethora of platform shoes (heels, boots, sneakers, Doc Martens — you name it, it was there), quilted pants, eclectic jackets, and fur (a whole bunch of fur) to Isla Vista’s Community Center in celebration of the first annual UC Santa Barbara Fashion Club Spring Runway Show. The club, which was formed mid-pandemic in 2020 and found its place at the school in Fall of 2023, showcased a variety of student-designed looks on student models, who put their strutting skills to use on the runway. And it wasn’t just about the fashion — funky student artwork lined both walls paralleling the catwalk — colorful oil paintings on one side and black and white sketches on the other. Amidst the creativity pulsing through the audience, it seemed as though everyone was waiting in anticipation for the models to make their debut.
To the background sounds of house music, By Soltana’s models came out first. Reminiscent of fairies and mermaids, the models displayed feminine beauty within nature (as mentioned by the designer), and pearls, shells, waist chains, and belts hung off of their bodies. The crocheted green dress with pastel flowers was a stunning finale to the line.
Next came an all-men’s line representing a collaboration between Greetings x DJD, all one of one, handcrafted in Los Angeles. The male models looked chic and very put-together, bringing together the concepts of streetwear and business casual.