Moscow’s hottest fashion show is less than a month away, back with more one-of-a-kind designs from some of University of Idaho’s very own student artists.The third annual Moscowrade Wearable Art Fashion Show will take place at 8 p.m. April 20 at the Eastside Marketplace Convention Center — the same weekend as UI’s Mom’s Weekend.
UI Clothing, Textiles and Design seniors Crystal Truong, Kate Mills and Mollie Wonacott are the co-directors of the event being produced by Body Con, a student club founded by the trio.
The Moscowrade first launched under Antiques by Russ owner Russ Wheelhouse, Truong said.
“He has this vision of up-cycled artwork going down the runway,” she said. “He likes the idea of sustainable items being made into clothing, and that is what we really focus this event around.”
This year’s fashion show will highlight both up-cycled and non-recycled designs from students and community members in Moscow and surrounding communities. In the past, designs using garbage bags, coffee filters, newspaper, candy wrappers and other reusable materials have all been featured in the show.
“It is really a creative project,” Truong said. “We don’t have a specific collection that we are aiming toward. Each designer is coming up with something unique and fun to put into the show.”
Mills said they are expecting close to 40 models to debut designs from about 25 different designers.
She said they sold 200 tickets for last year’s fashion show, and she is anticipating between 200-300 tickets will be sold this year.
Tickets prices are $12 for front row seats, $10 for second row, $8 dollars for third row and $5 for general admission to the event. Students with their student ID will receive a $2 dollar discount on first through third row seats or $5 for general admission.
“All of our ticket proceeds will go to Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse, which has been our charity every year for the Moscowrade show,” Mills said.
Volunteer hair and makeup artists from Essence Salon will be back stage at the event, prepping and glamming the models for a walk down the runway.
“This is the first year we are doing a model training the Tuesday before the event,” she said. “We have an (experienced) model chair and model assistant chair who will be putting together a little workshop on how to walk in heels, how to pose and how to hold the face.”
Body Con has also teamed up with Moose Lodge for hors d’oeuvres and drinks at the show, she said.
Truong said they are having a 21-and-up after party at Gnosh, where there will be drink and food specials along with great music.
Body Con is a UI student-run club for Clothing, Textiles and Design majors that provides students the opportunity to put together shows, photo shoots and fundraising events to gain experience and develop a portfolio. Professional photographers will take photographs at the event for designers’ portfolios.
Tickets are available at Essence Salon or Antiques by Russ.
Emily Vaartstra can be reached at [email protected]