Riverside City College’s Fashion Club takes on the runway

Streetwear met business casual on the runway floor of a fashion show hosted by a Riverside City College’s club on Dec. 5. The Fashion club hosted the winter show at The Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties, featuring 22 models from both RCC and University of California, Riverside. 

The center offered ample space for a traditional runway with an elongated path in between rows of chairs that the models took two separate walks through.

 The first lap consisted of pieces the designers and models retrieved from RCC’s Career Closet, some of which had been upcycled to create an edgier look. Layering was a consistent factor on most of the models with added patterns, fabrics and colors, making the professional clothing look more laid-back and trendy. 

Johnte Smith, vice president of the club, said the Career Closet gets a copious amount of donations and oftentimes has casual clothing on hand. This inspired Devin Brown, the club’s president, to combine the two. Smith worked alongside Brown to bring this vision to life on the runway. 

Smith said he hopes the show is proof that there are fashionable people at RCC and that they have a space to collaborate.

“We can do runway shows, we can do photoshoots, we can do anything you’d want to express your creativity,” Smith said. 

On the theme of creative freedom, the club made sure the models still had a say in the styles they posed in. The second lap of the show was saved for outfits that the models picked out themselves or in collaboration with a designer. 

Bel Zelaya, one of the models from the club, said she leaned into her own personal alternative vibe for the second look of the night and chose to pair a leather jacket with her big combat boots.

One of the models decided to get assistance with his outfits from a friend outside of the club, Bryce Lawson. Lawson is a local designer with a small online brand called “Black Umbrella Atelier” and said he began making clothing because of his love for higher-end fashion. 

“I just like expensive clothes, unfortunately,” Lawson said. “So I decided to just make my own for a way less price.” 

One of Lawson’s pieces worn in the show was a sweater with a graphic of the Statue of Liberty holding a black umbrella, inspired by Raf Simons, and a black monochromatic button-up with florals and outlined lips on the chest and sleeve. 

Lawson said he doesn’t plan to release the button-up, but found its flirty feel to be a nice look for friend Jaylen Mickenscarpenter to wear during his model debut. 

Mickenscarpenter was one of the many first-timers on the runway and said he enjoyed the chance to practice his interest in fashion. Mickenscarpenter was recruited by the club when he was in attendance at one of the club’s former shows on campus, while others submitted interest online and fully participated in the casting process. 

Austin Dolan, director of the show, said they filtered through models to find those who would best represent RCC and the fashion club. During practices, he was able to coach the models on their walks and inspire confidence in them, being a professional model himself. 

He said just trying is the most important thing for a model to do and expressed the importance of taking new opportunities. 

“Honestly, just go for it,” Dolan said. “If you hold yourself back, you’re never gonna make it.” 

Executing a successful, off-campus show took a lot of practice for the club that started with only 10 members in July. They explained they overcame nerves, learned techniques and were able to organize a carefully orchestrated show, proving their passion for fashion.