On March 21, the University of Waterloo hosted its 14th annual Fashion for Change show at the Hagey Hall Theatre. Fashion for Change is a non-profit organization that brings together students from the University of Waterloo, Conestoga College and Wilfrid Laurier University to stage the largest student-run charity fashion show in the Kitchener-Waterloo region.
Over the past 10 years, the club has raised more than $125,000 for charity, partnering this year with the KW-Humane Society to host the largest charity/fashion show in the region.
“A lot of time and effort goes into this,” said Lily Kuszaj, internal PR manager for the organization. “There are so many people in this club, people making the stage work, choreographing the dancers, choreographing the scenes, making sure everything runs smoothly. And then we also have stylists, and they work throughout the whole year to create pieces to be in the show.”
This year’s theme, “Through the Pages,” took audiences on a journey through iconic works of literature.
The night opened with a display inspired by Romeo and Juliet, featuring a romantic line of fashion, including clean-cut suits and delicate floral wear. It was followed by an act based on The Handmaid’s Tale, which presented a bridal-inspired runway with intricate lace designs. Each literary segment typically included three performances, often pairing a runway with a dance number.
Leah Anton, an executive on the makeup team, reflected on her experience working on the show. “It is really impressive for a bunch of university students, everyone’s working hard in their courses so the fact that they have time to practice these crazy flips and tricks, design whole catalogs of outfits, it’s impressive.”
Anton continued to praise the creativity of the team, “everything is based off of books so it is really cool to see how the designers take that and mix it with their own unique style,” Said Anton, “It really is a diverse array of looks going on.”
Following The Handmaid’s Tale, a group of hip-hop dancers took the stage in brightly coloured streetwear inspired by The Alchemist, incorporating scarves into their energetic choreography. Afterwards came a performance based on The Great Gatsby, featuring flapper-style dresses and a lively dance routine. One standout piece was a shimmering gold dress that caught and reflected the stage lights all around the audience.
Act one concluded with a dramatic interpretation of The Crucible, featuring blood-soaked gowns, floor-length ivory skirts and flowing veils. The stellar dance performance ended with the stage going dark as a dancer delivered a piercing scream straight into the crowd, creating one of the night’s most memorable moments.
Act two opened with an upcycling runway, showcasing garments made from repurposed materials and highlighting the importance of reducing fast fashion waste. This was followed by The Odyssey, a fashion journey featuring a brilliantly choreographed high-energy dance number that left the audience breathless.
One runway captivated the audience with its social impact, presenting designs that explored queer themes, including struggle and romance. The show also featured guest performers, including two K-pop-inspired groups, one a five-member group that performed a live song and dance, and another group that presented an elegant Chinese dance.
Turning to the iconic horror genre, Frankenstein was brought to life through a gothic romance lens, with pale, elaborate gowns paired with graceful, ballet-inspired choreography.
Just before the final act, A Midsummer Night’s Dream took the stage with a floral-themed runway. Models wore pastel pinks and greens, creating a serene atmosphere and delivering the epitome of grace as they strutted the stage.
All performers returned to the stage for the finale, which featured feathered designs and three models wearing angel-like wings. The show concluded with a swing dance number and a final group performance.
“You meet a lot of different people in this club, and it all comes together for the showcase,” said Connor Foote, a model and dancer in The Odyssey and other numbers. “It’s always sad when it’s over but there’ll be more next year and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again.”
Contributed Photo/Margo Norchliffe
