As I walked inside Larrison dining hall, bright lights illuminated the room. Although the lights were shining in my eyes, the aroma of food quickly grabbed my attention; steaming pastelitos and egg rolls lay so precious in the pan. As I waited for the performance, Alumni, students and friends all strolled in to celebrate the Black Arts Fest during Black History Month.
Umoja experience, hosted by the Black Student Union, was the theme for this year’s fashion show. Umoja, Swahili for Unity, is one of the seven principles of Kwanza. It is rooted in bringing together a community, to foster support for one another. I definitely felt the unity in the room today!
To start off, the hosts rallied loud chants from the crowd with their jokes. Now hooked, it was time for the main performance to start. The first theme was Melanin Wardrobe: Unified in appearance yet infinite in depth, our wardrobe reflects the intersectionality of the Black community-where shared vision meets layered roots and lived experience. The models came out with swag, in an outfit that represents their culture.
Next was Pageant: A tribute to elegance, confidence, and tradition. This segment reimagines classic pageantry through a modern lens, highlighting poise, glamour, and grace.
This segment is told through the lens of Lyric Abdul-Rasheed ‘26, the first ever Black woman to win BizPitch here at Bucknell, and first woman to be featured on Bucknell’s Magazine. This segment highlighted confidence and the beauty of being black.
The third segment was Girlfriends: A Nostalgic Revival of Early 2000s Fashion. It was playful, experimental, and unapologetically bold. Think futuristic energy, statement pieces, and pop-culture influence.
This segment was my personal favorite. The models came out in early 2000s “drip”, and absolutely killed it on the runway. Last but not least, Tailored Suit: Precision Meets Power. This segment explores sharp silhouettes, structured tailoring, and redefining professionalism through individuality and style.
I mean, look at them! The models came out looking sharp, outfits tailored, and confident.
To conclude this blog, this was an amazing fashion show all around. It was great to see friends and alumni that I can now call my family. This event definitely highlighted what it means to be the minority at a PWI; united as one. The crowd showed out for our sisters and brothers who performed tonight, and the models made it very easy to cheer for them.
-Ahmed Omo