FAST AT UCLA SS19-20
TO OUR DEAR BRUINS, WHO INSPIRED US.
FAST AT UCLA
2019-2020
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A Letter from the Presidents
Who is FAST?
What happened this year?
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FAST 2019-2020 Photoshoots & Films
Designer Spotlights
10 // Spooky Halloween Shoot 12 // FAST Fall Retreat Shoot 14 // FASTxPull&Bear Shoot 16 // 4v3 Photoshoot Challenge 18 // FAST at UCLA Youtube 20 // Euphoria Shoot 22 // All-Member Shoot 24 // Executive Board Shoot 26 // Plastic Shoot 28 // Once Upon a Time with Bonnie & Clyde Shoot 30 // A Dive into Virtual Renaissance: Cloud Series
34 // Bleached by Suchita Kumar 36 // Hope Anh by Hope Pham 38 // Renaissance by Jason Chua & Francisco Borja 40 // Chrome by Mohammed Moussa 42 // First Impressions by Anna Tsai 44 // Beat black and blue by Steph Kang 46 // Giardino Floreale by Sabrina Costa 48 // Royal Revival by Makenzie Hart 50 // Rêve en Paris by Olivia Lamarre 52 // HORROR VACUI F/W 20 by Nicholas Chu 54 // Ethereal by Juan Miguel Malana 56 // Happy Day! by Sofia Chang 58 // DUAL by Phoebe Nguyen 60 // Space Cadet by Sarah Shulkin 62 // Campbell&Kramer by Presley Campbell & Alden Kramer
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Fashion Current Events 2019-2020
Blog Highlights
Behind the Scenes of Show Day
72 FAST 2019-2020 Executive Board Yearbook
71 FAST 2019-2020 All-Members Yearbook
FAST 2019-2020
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Welcome to the Inaugural Issue of FAST Magazine!
together. No matter the circumstances, we are a family. FAST at UCLA will hold another Runway next year, and the year after that, but there will never be a team like ours or a year quite like this ever again. Let us embrace each moment we have together, for all we can live in is the now.
After a great deal of planning and hard work, we are excited to introduce FAST at UCLA’s first ever print publication. Though the circumstances that pushed us to create and release an issue were not ideal, we are committed to showcasing the work of our student body no matter what, and we hope you enjoy the out- We are both extremely proud and honored to have come as much as we do. been given this one of a kind experience to lead our FAST at UCLA community. We are humbled by this Due to the global shutdown by the COVID-19 virus, team’s creativity and hard work, as well as the lifelong we were unable to host our runway show this year. friendships we have encountered. Our show is so unique and special that it is hard to fully grasp its magic until it is experienced. However, A special and heart-felt thank you to our amazing FAST must go on, and we’ve decided to put togeth- 2019-2020 Executive Board and our members. er this issue to highlight all that FAST at UCLA has accomplished. With the help of our Creative team’s We hope you enjoy this magazine that embodies our extraordinary graphic designers and a broader collab- passions and aspirations. oration between our members, we bring to you this issue in the hopes that it can exhibit FAST’s work as Best, well as our show does. We hope you are as proud of Jenn Lim and Kirsten Skead yourselves as we are, and know that we will prevail FAST President and Vice-President 2019-2020
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Who is FAST? FAST (Fashion and Student Trends) is UCLA’s first and only fashion club. Founded in 2001, FAST is the epicenter for all things related to fashion and the fashion industry at UCLA. As UCLA does not offer a fashion design major or minor, our club enables young talents to showcase their work at our annual industry level spring runway show (with an audience of over 700 guests and industry professionals). Since there are many aspects to planning a successful runway show, FAST provides first-hand experience in design, modeling, finance, budgeting, public relations, marketing, creative directing, and production. Typically, our Designers showcase their collections in an annual runway show in Pauley Pavillion, a historic and iconic setting that allows hundreds of guests to witness their work. Our Production team creates the logistics and planning behind the event, while our Events teams handles the After-Party, as well as our Networking Night and various socials throughout the year. Our Finance team worked incredibly hard this year to raise more funds than ever before from our scholastic funding applications, a number we hoped to expand upon through our annual Spark Campaign. All designs are worn by our student Models, shot by our Editorial team, and filmed by our talented Film crew. These committees also work together throughout the year to create eye-catching shoots featured on our social media and our website, which is home to internationally read articles written by our creative and analytical Blog team. Our PR & Marketing team handles the press and promotion of our annual show, while sponsorships and brand deals are led by our Sponsorship team. Year after year, FAST grows professionally, becoming more involved with the UCLA community and the fashion industry, and creating a tight-knit community with a shared passion. FAST is becoming an organization that is increasingly influential each year, ranging from being invited to events with Hermes and GQ, attending private meetings with Adidas Outdoors designers, being sent to New York Fashion Week, and connected with supportive fashion-industry leaders. FAST hosts bonfires, movie nights, hikes, and trips to Six Flags for our members. We can’t wait to see how FAST grows next.
FAST’s potential and creativity is endless.
What happened this year? We all started off 2020 looking forward to a great year ahead of us. It was the beginning of a new decade, signifying the start of a new era. However, goals for this year were sadly cut short as COVID-19 spread into a global pandemic. As of May 2020, the US has 1.2 million cases and there are 3.6 million cases worldwide. With numbers like these, we as the FAST community understand the need for a state-wide shutdown and the closing of UCLA’s campus. If anything, COVID-19 has taught us to cherish the UCLA family we have and to appreciate the little things in life. What’s most important now is that we are safe and at home. Looking back at 2020 we will definitely remember COVID-19 the most, but we also hope to remember the love and support the human race has shown during this difficult time.
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9-2020 ~ P 201 H O ST
S HOOT S TO
D E I ~ T O M R L I IAL F &
&
M ~ L I FA F
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S POOK Y H AL L OW EEN With all of the fires in SoCal, midterms being upon us, and the panic of having to make a costume appear out of thin air for your parties, spooky season this fall had definitely lived up to its name. This is FAST’s take on Halloween sans costume, shot in a garage with Goodwill props, but with all the blood, chains, and smolder to end ~spooky season~ with a bang. FAST BLOG TEAM Ty Koslowski Photgrapher: Wenci Wang
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Top: Alex Rainge, Photographer: Wenci Wong Left: Alex Rainge, Photographer: Mohammed Moussa Right: Alex Rainge,Ty Koslowski, Photographer: Jason Chua
FALL RETREAT
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Fall Retreat Shoot Following the biggest month in fashion, our members brought their best looks and “Back to School� style to our Fall Retreat this past October. Neutral colors that elucidate the change of seasons were prominent. All looks were unique and individualistic, representative of the diversity in our club. What went down in our neighborhood park could have happened on a runway in Paris.
Blogger: Genevieve Cong Models: Kirsten Skead, Lisa Steward. Jennifer Lim, JD Malana, Meghan He, Ryan Neis, Queena Chu, Avery Edson, Marcus Vidaurri Photos by: Mohammed Moussa. Tarnue Kpissay, Kayla Wisnowski
FAST x Pull & Bear
What do you get when you mix UCLAthe #1 public university in the US, and a student favorite fashion brand? If you answered one of the best collaborations of all time, you’d be correct. Pull & Bear is a young fashion brand inspired by the California landscape. They create clothes for young individuals who love to experiment with different trends
and styles, while being comfortable and affordable. With this collaboration, Pull & Bear has created a UCLA collection based on the shared values of youth, diversity, and commitment. The collection features all kinds of t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, and accessories adorned with the UCLA logo but mixed with Pull & Bear’s street style
designs.The marriage of the two styles creates a unique collection never seen before in previous UCLA merchandise. FAST was super excited to collaborate with Pull & Bear by styling and shooting our very own models and members in the collection on campus. More photos available on our website.
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4 PHOTOGRAPHERS 3 MODELS 4 v 3 Our editorial team took on a mission to challenge themselves and get out of their comfort zones! 4 photographers shoot 1 model photo challenge inspired by Jessica Kolbessi, but with a twist.
Models: Amelia Thomas, Avery Edson, Isabella Mattina
3 models and 2 locations.
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Photographers: Jason Chua, Sophie Cheung (@sophiecheungvisuals), Magie Le, Wenci Wang
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FAST at UCLA FAST at UCLA’s Youtube channel continues to grow each year. Our Youtube allows for further creative expression through video. This is where our incredible film team creates series on designers, editorial shoots, and directs their own shoots. Our YouTube channel is also where our annual runway shows can be viewed! Visit our Youtube to see our most recent projects!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIzMpN57kJrgzhKPWDTeImQ/videos
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4 Photographers v 3 Models Challenge
2019 FAST Runway Show
2019 FAST Holiday
2018 FAST Runway Show
Photographer: Jason Chua Models: Iqra Irfan, Rishika Voruganti, Cole Summerfelt
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HBO’s critically acclaimed Euphoria follows a group of teenagers navigating the dark reality of high school through their various experiences with addiction, sex, friendship, love, abuse, and more. The show stars Zendaya who won a People’s Choice award for her role as Rue, as well as Hunter Schafer who plays Jules. Euphoria received raving reviews after the release of its first season in June of 2019, and fans await the premiere of season two that is rumored to air later this year. Aside from the progressive take on serious themes Euphoria highlights through its dark portrayal of teen reality, Euphoria has also been recognized for its unique makeup design. The characters in Euphoria frequently wear stylized and artistic makeup such as multi colored eye shadow, extreme highlight, and lots and lots of glitter. The show’s makeup team has been recognized for their inventive take on makeup design with various nominations, including Best Contemporary Makeup at the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylist Guild Awards. Euphoria’s makeup legacy has taken over social media and branded its own style in the makeup world, with “Euphoria-themed” makeup becoming a popular trend since its initial release. See more photos of how FAST was inspired by Euphoria below where the models did their own makeup! Blogger: Grace Constable
EUPHORIA
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ALL MEMBER SHOOT
Inspired by the theme that “black never runs out of style,” all our members wore classic colors to elude class and grace. The timelessness of our students’ style is memorialized through the shots you see here, and we treasure every instance the entirety of FAST gets together.
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EXECUTIVE BOARD
Photographers: Jason Chua, Mohammed Moussa Tarnue Kpissay, Rebecca Lin
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This expressive avant-garde photoshoot used plastic as a medium to enhance artistic direction. Models Megan Ngai, Tyler Law, and Kristina Thabet posed on campus using a simple sheet of plastic as a prop, which caught the light to create unique and interesting shots. Shot on the legendary Janss Steps, photographer Jason Chua captured remarkable depictions of student style in a reverent golden glow.
PLASTIC
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SHOOT
Photography by Jason Chua
Models: Megan Ngai, Taylor Law, Kristina Thabet
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Once Upon a Time with...
BONNIE&CLYDE This Valentine’s Day, FAST draws inspiration from none other than Bonnie and Clyde, the iconic couple who robbed banks and committed crimes during the Great Depression. In a time of poverty, the idea of two young people immensely in love and robbing the government was almost too good to be true. Bonnie was a married high-school dropout who wrote poems and Clyde was a poor boy who com
mitted the occasional crime when they met. They fell in love, and Bonnie became Clyde’s loyal companion until they were both shot in a raid. Together, they captured the attention of the press and public, leaving behind a legacy worthy of films and even a broadway show. Inspired by Bonnie & Clyde, FAST has taken a different lens to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Blogger : Michelle Ma
Modeled by Soraya Saghbini and Emmanuel Demian, Photographed by Mohammed Moussa
CLOUD SERIES
A Dive into VIRTUAL Renaissance With the new reality of COVID-19, our models and editorial team weren’t able to have photoshoots in real life for the spring quarter. Editorial co-director Jason got creative and shot models through a webcam using different video call platforms. With the power of editing, he enhanced the backgrounds and created a cloud series.
Models: Ashley Garcia, Soraya Saghbini, Emmanuel Demian Photographer: Jason Chua
Until we can meet again...
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DESIGNER SPOTLIGHTS
This year, we have the opportunity to present the remarkable level of diversity and imagination among the FAST designers through Designer Spotlights. The spotlight is an intimate glance into the designers’ creative process, from the personal motivations to create their lines to the distinct emotions they wished to evoke in the audience. Each designer spent hours carefully crafting their aesthetics and the spotlight is a way to recognize their talent and appreciate their dedication to our organization.
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What was the inspiration behind your line? What is the biggest lesson you’ve Climate change is at the forefront of global news. But while we hear about rising temperalearned as a designer this year? My line this year pushed me to experiment with new materials, such as fabric paint, and explore new technologies that could be used to create clothing ornamentation, such as 3D printing. It has also become increasingly clear to me that fashion is an interdisciplinary field. My collection this year, which was a fashion-based manifestation of the process of coral bleaching, was rooted in the idea of using fashion to promote environmental activism. Even more recently, the growing coronavirus pandemic has shown me how the fashion industry can be used to promote social well-being, as the healthcare industry relies on the rapid and efficient production of protective medical gear.
tures, melting ice caps and natural disasters, we don’t often hear about the disappearing gardens at the bottom of the ocean. Corals, with their vibrant colors and varied textures and shapes, are the epitome of marine beauty and abundance. They are vital parts of every aquatic ecosystem – acting as a habitat and nursing ground for many fish species. However, rising ocean temperatures have caused the algae that inhabit coral reefs, to be expelled – leaving reefs white, or “bleached”, and dying. I wanted my line to document the bleaching process and raise awareness of the pressing need for coral reef conservation.
SUCHITA KUMAR: BLEACHED “USING FASHION TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM”
What emotions do you want your line to evoke? How did you approach the design process for your line? To convey the severity of the coral bleaching process, I wanted to design clothing in a chronological sequence such that as the line progressed, the dress became increasingly paler in order to simulate a “bleached” effect. The first few dressed used bold colors and dramatic tulle pom-poms to portray the bright and colorful mushroom coral. For my other dresses, I used 3D printed brain corals to showcase the stunning diversity of coral shapes. While the first dresses would serve to convey the remarkable beauty of the reefs, the final dresses would be paler in color and significantly more lackluster in design and ornamentation in order to present the stark reality of the loss of an integral marine ecosystem.
My aim is to evoke a sense of sadness as the audience witnesses the representation of coral reefs loss right before their eyes. I had the opportunity to go scuba diving in the Maldives and the experience was breathtaking. Seeing the striking beauty of the coral reefs, each individual coral a different shade and gradient, was a surreal experience. I want my line to be a visual manifestation of that beauty, so that even those who have not had the chance to see the reefs up close can appreciate the importance of their ecosystems. I hope to create an emotional attachment to coral reef conservation. My line seeks to portray the harsh reality of coral reef extinction, hidden behind the superficial curtain of beauty, and I hope to encourage people to support coral reef conservation in any way they can.
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Hope Pham I begin with a story. In this case, I used my increasing exposure to a As a designer, I’ve refined my artistic professional working environment process through better illustrations as my theme. I tested various coland sewing techniques. I’ve used or palettes by designing and revisthe experiences I learnt from my ing multiple mood boards. When it last collection to improve the phys- came to designing the structure and ical construction of my garments. and elevate the overall cohesiveness of my line. In addition, I’ve extended my research to incorporate a variety of new patterns and fabrics. My future plans include digitizing designs and using softwares to edit and expand my portfolio. As a director, I’ve learnt to support my peers by managing behind-the-scenes work and planning workshops to equip my committee with the skills necessary to assemble their vision. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt as a designer this year?
What was the inspiration behind your line? I wanted to embody the seamless ebb and flow of childlike fascinations and professional duties. Particularly in a transformative season of life, such as college, circumstances push you closer to maturity, but split instances of charm pull you back. This line is about maintaining youth in all phases of life. How did you approach the design process?
shape, I wanted to experiment with different volumes and fabrics. To contrast my 2019 collection of flat, satin dresses, I tested heavier weight fabrics and drafted more experimental and geometric patterns. I also wondered: how would a child accessorize this typical black and white business suit?
Perhaps the sleekness of a ‘work-appropriate’ pencil skirtdramatically proportioned bows. What emotions do you want your line to evoke? I hope my designs appeal to people who experience a similar duality in their lives. Perhaps the contrasting exhibition will even help others realize their own tug-of-war. How do you usually ap. proach your design process? I fondly remember hosting a brunch party at my apartment for my models. We crowded around the ‘omelette and crepe bar’, enjoyed the aroma of baked banana bread, and immediately began gushing about the show, the clothes, and just simply life. It was the first time for some of the models to see their outfits and even get a quick fitting.Another favorite memory was deliberating model selections with Exec. We were so excited to see the auditions and discover future FAST members. clearly remember being a second year model auditionee, new to FAST, and completely overwhelmed by the prospect of catwalking. Now, I love how FAST has gone from being something I admired from a YouTube vlog to a family I cherish at UCLA.
Hope Anh
HOPE AHN FASHION LINE
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JC: Anyone can make clothes but not everyone gets design inspiration at the same time. I’ve learned that I have a vision but not enough creativity and resources to implement my ideas. I had to wait a whole quarter to even get some of my materials and fabric, which in the end I didn’t like so I had to restart from scratch. Though, I learned a lot from YouTube. It has helped me in making base pieces and understanding everyone has a different creative process.
What was the inspiration behind your line? I wanted to combine my photography skills and my love for old, as well as modern renaissance. Although I couldn’t complete the rest of my pieces, I can definitely describe them. 1. I was really inspired by spray paint replication for a straight-set long dress. The spray paint replica would be of one of my photographs elongating from the left side of the dress and widening from the long dress. 2. My next piece would have been a character stitch of cupids and his arrows on the left side on a short-sleeve, oversized button-down shirt, then a photograph sleeve, oversized button-down shirt, then a photograph of a man and woman sharing an intimate kiss, covering the whole right side of the shirt.
3. My last piece would have been an avant-garde piece where I would try and automatically install an image viewer on a very long dress, showing most if not all of my photographs that I am proud of taking (this was inspired by Zendaya’s Met Gala dress).
What is your favorite FAST memory? Taking pictures. It has and always been my love, and this passion was reignited because of FAST and its talented members. My specific favorite memory is my plastic shoot; something that was planned last minute, I drove out 30 minutes to find a Home Depot, get plastic, ask the models to do weird expressions while wrapped or touching plastic, then turned it into something beautiful.
Is there anything else you would like to say about your line? I will still complete my line in due time, and I hope it can shock the world.
What emotions do you want your line to evoke?
Renaissance
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a designer this year?
Love.
How did you approach the design process? YouTube, books, magazines and self-taught.
Jason Chua
Francisco Borja
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“Anyone can make clothes but not everyone gets design inspiration at the same time. I’ve learned that I have a vision but not enough creativity and resources to implement my ideas.”
How did you approach the design process? Youtube and looking at the works of God’s chosen designers that make me want to cut off my own hand in sorrow.
What emotions do you want your line to evoke? The feeling of: “lol you made this?”
What was the inspiration for your line? Death and passion and LA and boba and Korean barbecue.
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MOHAMMED MOUSSA What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a designer this year? Don’t procrastinate. What was the inspiration behind your line? This line was not the original intention for this year’s show. For these designs I took my logo and just tried to rip off as many different logos and design styles as I could. I feel that it’s a good representation of how I’m feeling during quarantine because I don’t feel inspired or motivated to do anything. Many of these designs will never see reality. How did you approach the design process? For these designs I spent some time looking through creative and design blogs online and once something caught my eye I started recreating it in photoshop. I kept them in logo form because the intention is that they can be printed on or put onto anything.
What emotions do you want your line to evoke? For this line I want people to feel how I’m feeling. If I had to describe it I’d say it’s a lack of excitement. Contrasted with my photography and original designs, I want the viewer of these designs to think “oh this is cool” but to also realize that there is nothing which is extraordinary or special. What is your favorite FAST memory? Getting kicked out of the Waldorf Astoria in the middle of a photoshoot. Is there anything else you would like to say about your line? Having life turned upside down out of nowhere made it easier for me to put meaning behind my designs. Before, I had so many ideas that were all over the place but now that I feel only one emotion it became easier to focus that into my work. I think it’ll be interesting trying to replicate these overwhelming internal feelings next year when it’s time to do a proper line for the show.
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“I learned how much work it takes to execute creative content.” “My inspiration was paint and artwork.” “I started with the same materials and then kind of let loose.”
ANNA TSAI
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FIRST IMPRESSIONS
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STEPH KANG
BEAT BLACK & BLUE
What was the inspiration for your line? My inspiration was the fetishwear community. How did you approach the design process? At first, I had a very specific vision of what I wanted to accomplish with my line. However, I quickly realized that I didn’t have the skillset or funds to achieve my dreams. So I sketched up new designs based off the cheap fabrics I bought and what I thought I could accomplish and sewed based off of that. Then I messed up a lot and it morphed into what we have today! What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a designer this year? Clothes are difficult to make and require patience. What is your favorite FAST memory? My favorite FAST memory was meeting my friends in design then going to a Mac Ayres concert with them a few days after!
“I want my line to evoke intrigue. I wanted my line to look very weird and kind of scary, and raise a lot of questions for people who saw it.” -Steph Kang 45
SABRINA COSTA
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a designer this year? The biggest lesson I’ve learned as a designer this year was that it is important to test your ideas before making something that you feel does not meet your vision. What was the inspiration for your line? My line was inspired by the beauty that lies within a flower garden. More specifically, it was inspired by the way that flowers add more intricacy to simple things as I used simpler designs with more intricate fabric. However, the pictures you see here of my designs are from last year’s fashions show, which was inspired by the 2018 MET exhibit of Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.
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How did you approach the design process? Typically I approach my design process by looking up different red carpet or met gala looks. I tend to pull my inspiration from there. Once I find a few looks that I really like, I then decide how I would put my own twist on it and do it differently. From there, I tend to choose simpler fabrics for more intricate designs and more elaborate fabrics for simpler designs.
What emotions do you want your line to evoke? Flowers are symbolic in so many events in life, and I hope the flowers make people feel nostalgic as they can think back to a time in their life where a certain flower may hold a certain memory for them. What is your favorite FAST memory? My favorite FAST memory was my first FAST retreat freshman year. In high school, I didn’t know many people that shared my passion for sewing and design, so during that retreat, I got to know so many people that share the same passions as me. I really enjoyed getting to talk to everyone about fashion and share design ideas with each other.
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MAKENZIE HART REVIVAL
ROYAL
2019-2020 What is the biggest lesson you’ve All my life, I have been involved in the my line feel more contemporary, featuring performing arts, so I have always loved more modern cuts and styles while being learned as a designer this year? Not to procrastinate on deadlines, for sure! I realized quickly that it’s not a great idea to leave sewing to the last minute.
What was the inspiration for your line?
the idea of putting on a character and have been mesmerized by the fantastic costumes. My line is, essentially, inspired by my lifelong love for ‘dressing up’. I intended to create dramatic pieces I could see on stage, which are specifically inspired by the Elizabethan era. However, I wanted to make
conscious of various style elements from the past (corsetry, trim, ruffles, etc). The three completed pieces I chose to showcase are inspired by fantastical characters, with the pink ‘Princess’ set, the golden ‘Enchantress’ gown, and the red ‘Queen’.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve that I thought might further these stories in the finished product. learnt as a designer this year? I began with the above idea and started by writing down the characters I wanted to portray. I then created a sort of storyboard for each ‘character’, in order to figure out how best to convey each personality in a tangible article of clothing. I also chose fabric
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What emotions do you want your line to evoke? I really hope my line evokes a sense of whimsy and happy nostalgia: of days as a little kid playing make believe and dress up.
“A SENSE OF
What is your favorite FAST memory? Fabric shopping! Getting together with all the designers to go out and find fabric was such a fun experience. We were able to actually see the beginnings of our lines and it was a lovely formative experience.
NOSTALGIA”
WHIMSY &
HAPPY
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OLIVIA LAMARRE
REVE EN PARIS What was the inspiration for your line?
What is your favorite FAST memory?
Paris, the whimsy and fairytale element of the French city. I spent my fall quarter of this year living and studying in Paris and I completely taken by the sophistication of dress in France. I tried to mix that sophistication with elements of romance and wonder that people often dream about when thinking of Paris.
Definitely seeing everyone all dressed up for our photoshoot in front of Royce. We truly have so many creative and fabulous members.
How did you approach the design process? Paris, the whimsy and fairytale element of the French city. I spent my fall quarter of this year living and studying in Paris and I completely taken by the sophistication of dress in France. I tried to mix that sophistication with elements of romance and wonder that people often dream about when thinking of Paris.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a designer this year? Definitely that there is inspiration everywhere, and it might not always be so simple or clearcut to make a creative line as one simple style or inspiration. Additionally that your style or the way you dress does not have to match the trends or the current age or season. For instance, I’m a huge advocate against loungewear and athleisure, I love to see people actually get dressed.
What emotions do you want your line to evoke? Love and romance for your own life. I think it’s important to dress out of your imagination, find clothes that make you feel very alive. I wear crazy colors and am overdressed every single day of my life but that’s my daily art form.
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NICHOLAS CHU H O R R O R
What emotions do you want your line to evoke? I want my line to give people a sense of nostalgia and surprise. Many of the characters in my line are from iconic anime shows and films that anime fans know and appreciate. However, the way that these characters are presented is in a new streetwear context, translating lovable anime characters onto wearable pieces of art.
How did you approach the design process? I always start off with sketches. I usually start by deciding on character or theme that will guide the overall feel/look of my pieces. Most of my final products were different from my original plans (sometimes things don’t look as great in real life). The graphics that I utilize are either hand-drawn/painted or airbrushed using stencils that I make.
V A C U I
What was the inspiration for your line? This line is inspired by the various anime shows I watch and have watched growing up. Anime has played a huge role in shaping my perspective on life through its beautiful artwork and complex storylines. Most of the graphics I use on my pieces are based on characters from these shows. Sustainability and creativity are also important. Designers on Instagram who upcycle thrifted clothes also have inspired me to do the same in my line.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a designer this year? Definitely learning how to use a sewing machine. I only knew how to sew by hand prior to joining FAST, so picking up sewing skills allowed me to start creating and reconstructing pieces. I also learned how to be patient with the creative process. Things will never be perfect on your first try, and it’s important to be open to divergence from your original concept.
What is your favorite FAST memory? My favorite memory with FAST was visiting the fashion district with the design committee! It was my first time having to sort through a huge selection of fabric that I would have to use to create pieces from scratch. It was great to be there with other first-time designers as we all struggled to figure out which fabrics to buy.
JM MALANA What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a designer this year? I’d say it’s definitely to show restraint when fabric shopping. I feel like after each visit to the Fashion District I told myself to calm down and really consider whether I needed to buy something, but every time I came back with more than I got the time before. It made me happy, but my wallet not so much.
What emotions do you want your line to evoke? More than anything, I’d like my line to evoke a greater sense of appreciation for classical beauty in design. I want others to see the same elegance that I saw when I was inspired to put it together, and I just want people to remember how appealing art can be when we take a step back and honor time-tested notions and traditions.
ETHEREAL
What was the inspiration for your line? Much of the inspiration for my line comes from the more classic and traditional perceptions of beauty in design. With changing and expanding notions of art and artistry, I felt that it was important for me to create a line that would not only be more readily appreciated by a wider audience, but would also remind people of the classical elegance and beauty of the past. Though I greatly appreciate new waves and changing approaches to art, I wanted to create a line that was not good simply because it was shocking, daring, or outrageous, but because it was actually beautiful in the traditional sense. I believe that even to this day, standards established over centuries and across cultures should be honored, and I wanted to use my line to pay homage in my own little way.
How did you approach the design process? In the earlier stages of designing this year, I stuck to more conceptual ideas and images of the colors, textures, and patterns I wanted to put together. I knew it was important to consider the models I’d be working with, and I wanted to ensure flexibility in the pieces and styles I would eventually flesh out. Though eager to begin work on all sorts of full pieces, I reserved myself to simply selecting the general colors and themes of my line. Pearly white. A deep gold. Air and a flowing nature. I found myself really resonating with these traits, and kept them in tow on my many many visits to the L.A. Fashion District.
What is your favorite FAST memory? Hands down my favorite FAST memory would be the first visit our Designer Committee took to the Fashion District in L.A. I remember walking into the first massive store with seemingly endless rows and shelves of fabric, material, and thread, and just being so excited and inspired to create. I felt like a kid in a candy shop and just spent a long time looking through the whole store. Though I wasn’t planning on buying anything in particular during my first visit, by the end of that day I found myself happily walking back to my dorm with several bags from several different stores and yards of beautiful fabric for a line I hadn’t fully planned yet. Is there anything else you would like to say about your line? I can’t wait to work on it this coming year, and to meet the wonderful people I’ll be working with!
Happy Day!
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What was the inspiration for your line? I was inspired by stuffed animals and toys reminiscent of my childhood! I wanted to incorporate a lot of patchwork as such.
What emotions do you want your line to evoke?
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a designer this year?
I want my line to evoke feelings of happiness and lightheartedness- like floating on a cloud.
As a designer this year I’ve learned how important it is to manage my time! Sewing and designing takes soo much time and concentration which is definitely something I needed to improve upon at the beginning of the year.
03 Sofia Chang
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Is there anything else you would like to say about your line? Although I didn’t necessarily get to flesh out my line into its full form that I would’ve liked to see this year I’ll be back next year! I’d like to go off sort of my same theme but perhaps expand a bit more upon it and be more experimental.
What is your favorite FAST memory?
How did you approach the design process?
My favorite FAST memory was the social at the beginning of the year- I thought it was super fun getting to meet people and a cool introduction to my fellow designers!
I approached the design process starting out sketching my ideas on paper. I then turned to Adobe Illustrator to fully flesh them out. From there, I took measurements of my models and drafted patterns, sewing my garments. My design process however took a turn- I think I realized that I had a lot more fun not planning things out as much and just going with my gut, which ended up taking my collection in a different direction than I’d originally intended.
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DUAL PHOEBE NGUYEN What was the inspiration for your line? DUAL is inspired by dualities of the world. For me, my line’s main focus is my dual identity of being both Asian and American. DUAL essentially ties in my Asian heritage with a mix of modern fashion. I want to show off the unification of both of my identities and represent my Asian American heritage in hopes it will resonate with the audience. Other dualities I wanted to focus on stems from breaking the enforced binaries I’ve witnessed in older Asian generations, and even some people here at UCLA. An example of this would be showing more gender fluidity, rather than being ultra masculine or feminine. For many Asian households, older generations tend to adhere to more Confuscian ideals and tradition, most notably patriarchal views of men being in positions of dominance and authority over women. My line exists to push against those boundaries. I’m not just Asian. I’m not just American. I’m Asian American. There’s power in that sentiment to feel worthy of my culture AND worthy of having a place in America. How did you approach the design process?
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At first, I had my own ideas of how I wanted to incorporate Vietnamese traditional clothing with modern trends today. Shortly after I selected my models, I realized the Vietnamese culture only tells my story and I wanted to tell the stories of my models as well. After speaking with my models, I learned that many of us have juggled with our identities and the struggles of feeling too Asian or too American. My eight models all had different stories and I changed my design process to align with their culture and experiences. For some of my models, this meant growing up in America and experiencing a surrounding that lacked their own culture or suppressing this part of their identity. For other models, this meant growing up in an Asian country and coming to UCLA to study. This meant being looked at differently for wanting to learn how to speak English or wanting to come to America to study. My design process was ultimately shaped by the Indonesian, Filipino, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Indian, and Chinese American identities of my models. Look forward to next year for my complete line!
01 Gold Two-Piece Set
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This piece was inspired by a traditional Filipiniana dress, the terno.This dress typically features a matching blouse and skirt with distinct oversized “butterfly sleeves,” which is similar to the modern trend of two piece sets and puffy sleeves. This look would have been worn, not by me, but by one of my male models who identifies as a gay Filipino American. I wanted to showcase the lack of acknowledgement and safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community to be themselves in Asian American households. 02 The Powersuit This outfit is to go against patriarchal views and represent how anybody, man, woman, and anyone in between, can be in positions of power. This piece is to highlight all the amazing women I have encountered in FAST that truly exudes confidence in ways I’ve never seen. Just because I am a five foot petite woman does not mean I have any less authority than a man.
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03 Dr. Kimono Why do you want to go to medical school? “Because my parents want me to.” Is that a reasonable answer?... With this piece inspired by a doctor’s coat and Japanese Kimono, I wanted to showcase the pressures many Asian Americans face to become doctors. It’s a homage to many children of immigrants who are pushed to go towards careers that would please their parents more so than please themselves. And for the students who decide to not become doctors, they are left with repeated thoughts of not being successful enough for their parents.
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“This line symbolizes much more than the clothing we see on another individual. The longer you stare at each clothing piece, more cultural influences start to identify themselves.”-Rohin Sharma
LAUD NEY U GN EBEOHP
“SPACE CADET”
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SARAH SHULKIN What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned this year? I have learned that it definitely takes a lot of time management skills and organization to make designs under a deadline. This was difficult because I am usually making outfits for myself when I suddenly feel inspired, but it is super different making multiple at once (not a bad thing!). I have also learned that I have many more outfit ideas in my head than I thought, which is super cool and inspiring.
What was the inspiration for your line? My inspiration is both fun, spacey fabrics and the kind of outfits worn at music festivals or for dance routines. I love being able to wear outfits that I feel comfortable and can move in while also feeling confident. Pole dancing is very close to my heart, so being able to move and feel good in what I am wearing is super important to me.
How did you approach the design process? My inspiration is both fun, spacey fabrics and the kind of outfits worn at music festivals or for dance routines. I love being able to wear outfits that I feel comfortable and can move in while also feeling confident. Pole dancing is very close to my heart, so being able to move and feel good in what I am wearing is super important to me.
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ALDEN KRAMER
PRESLEY CAMPBELL
Presley & Alden (Jenny)
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What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a designer iting each other’s sketches, finding fabrics we love, and start sewing! Making mistakes and fixing them is how we learn to perfect our pieces. this year? Alden: We’ve learned a lot about the work that goes into sewing certain styles and sing certain fabrics. Pieces that may seem easy to sew could possibly require a lot of time and planning. Presley: We’ve learned to always be unique! We believe in designs that no one else is currently making and love to be different by tweaking different styles making our flirty feminine pieces!
What was the inspiration for your line? Alden: We want our line to be composed of romantic pieces that can also serve as wardrobe staples. Presley: Our inspiration is a strong woman, beautiful inside and out, who’s bold, sustainable, and wants to show her confidence through her clothes.
How did you approach the design process? Alden: Designing first started with sketching styles we want to see recreated, but we narrowed down all of our sketches and styles by thoughtfully considering what we are capable of sewing. Modifications of the style to suit our capabilities add creative flare. Presley: We approach the design process by sketching together, ed-
What emotions do you want your line to evoke? Alden: Primarily, we want to evoke a feminine, romantic dynamic, but we also want to incorporate street-style and casualness. Presley: We want our line to evoke confidence and boldness in the people who wear it.
What is your favorite FAST memory? Alden: Our favorite FAST memory would definitely be watching the runway show last year. Presley and I watched it together when we were just forming the idea of Campbell&Kramer. As part of the marketing committee, we were so excited to see the designers’ work. Presley: Our favorite FAST memory was the sewing workshops the designers had!
Is there anything else you would like to say about your line? Presley: Our line is made from 100% sustainable fabrics! Our goal is to be the first affordable, on trend, sustainable brand! Follow us on Instagram @campbellandkramer and check out our website www. campbellandkramer.com
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Gigi Hadid
Dua Lipa
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ASAP Rocky
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Kendall Jenner
The 90’s and early 2000’s have made a major comeback with styles like cropped cardigans, baguette bags, tie-dye, and two-toned hair.
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IN THE NEWS
Chanel runway crasher climbs on the catwalk during the Spring/Summer 2020 Paris Fashion Week Chanel show. (October 1, 2019) Retail stores including Victoria’s Secret, Topshop, and Forever 21 all filed for bankruptcy due to the rise of online shopping and downfall of fast fashion and brick-and-mortar retail shopping. LVMH acquired Tiffany and Co for 16.2 billion dollars, their most expensive acquisition. (November 25, 2019) Karl Lagerfeld passed away due to pancreatic complications on February 19, 2019.
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A. Virgil Abloh (OFF White) and Ikea collaborate for a new furniture collection called “Markerad�. (November 2019)
COLLABS
B. Stussy and Nike join forces for their quickly sold out sneakers. (April 2020)
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C. Many fashion brands have taken the stage in dealing with Covid-19, from mass producing masks to donating to organizations such as the Red Cross Foundation and the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Brands such as Gucci, Burberry, Chanel, Gap, and Ralph Lauren have taken efforts to help during the pandemic D. Takashi Murakami and Supreme raised over $1 million in their t-shirt collaboration for COVID-19 Relief. (April 2020)
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WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
EUPHORIA After the show aired, social media was filled with Euphoria-inspired fashion and makeup looks. Euphoria may have been iconic on its own, but these looks took it to the next level. (June 2019) MAKING THE CUT After leaving “Project Runway,” Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn are back to host Amazon’s new fashion reality show. With judges like Naomi Campbell and Carine Roitfeld, this show has proven to be another hit! (March 27, 2020)
NEXT IN FASHION A newcomer to fashion reality tv, this show brought small designers from around the world to compete for a $250,000 prize and a chance to design for online luxury retailer Net-a-Porter. With hosts Alexa Chung and Tan France, this show had all the British accents we needed with lovable contestants. (Jan. 29, 2020)
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BLOG HIGHLIGHTS The talented writers in our blog commitee work throughout the year to publish insightful, funny, creative and informative blog posts that provide a unique voice and lens to the fashion industry. Here are some of the blog highlights of this year!
BY GENEVIEVE CONG
BY SONAM BECKHAM
“Animal Crossing: New Horizons” Gives Players A Fashion Outlet
FAST Study Abroad: Seoul Fashion Week
BY LAUDAN HOSSEINI
BY JADEN KIM
Sustainable Series, Pt. 1: A Guide on Navigating the World of Hand-Me-Downs 68
Why I Downsized From 200 to 20 Clothing Pieces
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WWW.FASTATUCLA.COM
FASTUCLA.exe FASTUCLA.exe
VISIT WWW.FASTATUCLA.COM TO CHECK OUT OUR BLOGS!!!
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FAST BLOG HOMEPAGE FAST BLOG HOMEPAGE FAST BLOG HOMEPAGE FAST BLOG HOMEPAGE FAST BLOG HOMEPAGE FAST BLOG HOMEPAGE FAST BLOG HOMEPAGE
PRODUCTION BEHIND THE SCENES OF SHOW DAY By Harnoor Kaur House lights, cue the music, send the model out. As the director of the production committee, these phrases are my mantra behind orchestrating the annual FAST runway show.The members of the committee and I are responsible for planning the entire show, from coordinating VIP gift bags for our guests to making sure each model is ready to step out onto the runway. The show is the culmination of yearlong efforts to create a showcase for our models and designers to, quite literally, strut their stuff.
We begin planning the show in fall quarter with contacting makeup artists and hair stylists around the LA area to ask if they can help get the models ready during our show. We advertise the runway show as an opportunity for the artists and stylists to build their experience and explore their creativity. The show becomes a platform for everyone involved to express their artistry.Towards the end of fall quarter, we reach out to brands for donating to our VIP gift bags. Fresh from winter break, we dive into the nitty-gritty planning of our show. On top of still trying to secure stylists and brands,
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With spring quarter comes an ever-increasing rush of exhilaration. At this point, the show is just a few weeks away and the production committee is nailing down the final details.We plan how the guests will enter and be shown to their seats, how to conduct ticketing, and organize raffles and booths for the guests to look at before the show begins and during intermission. By now, the rental companies for building the stage, creating the seating, and organizing the backstage have been hired and given contracts. We organize members of the other committees and assign them tasks for the day of the show, because it truly is an all hands on deck event. The designers are given their models and models are given their line order. We make sure that there is no overlap between the models so they have enough time to change in between lines.The dressing rooms are split up for the designers to have enough space and time to dress the models.We work with the designers and the creative committee to create projections for the designer’s logo during their turn in the show and to create a pamphlet that matches the show’s theme. Before the show begins, every model needs to get their hair and makeup done. We oversee that process to make sure everyone is ready on time, and we keep track of what each stylist is doing so they can get credit for their work. Everyone from exec and my committee are assigned posts to oversee what’s going on in their area, and we use walkie-talkies to communicate with one another. I coordinate with my point-person backstage when to start the next line, when to send a model out, and when to end a line. I stay by the DJ and lighting booth for the duration of the show and use my walkie-talkie to signal the timing for the whole event. It takes a lot of patience and a knack for looking at details to plan the fashion show.The most important aspect to the production committee is the passion we have,for seeing everyone’s hard work come together and for putting on this celebration of every member in FAST.
BEHIND THE SCENES
we now work on the stage design and the seat layout. This requires coordination with our contacts at Pauley Pavillion and the sponsorship and finance committees to make sure we create a design that is feasible within our physical and financial limitations. We meet with Pauley staff to discuss how the stage will look, how to construct it, and where the models will enter, leave, and stand. Most importantly, we work profusely to make sure each and every audience member has the best possible view.We discuss how the lighting will look, what kind of music set-up provides the best experience, and how to ensure that throughout the show, everyone is able to work in a safe environment.
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2019-2020 FAST
Jennifer Lim, President
Business Economics (4th year)
Rita Chang, Sponsorship
Psychology, Economics (4th year)
JD Malana, Model
Psychobiology (4th year)
Kirsten Skead,Vice President Communications (3rd year)
Leylah Vives, Sponsorship Communications (4th year)
Lisa Steward, Creative
Architecture, Japanese (3rd year)
Harnoor Kaur, Production Communications (4th year)
Kimberly Oka, Model Psychobiology (4th year)
Amy Fang, Creative
Design Media Arts (3rd year)
Suchita Kumar, Designer
Physiological Science (3rd year)
Sonam Beckham, Blog Political Science (4th year)
Mohammed Moussa, Editorial Sociology (3rd year)
Hope Pham, Designer Political Science (3rd year)
Jordan Stewart, Film
Communications (4th year)
Marissa Shankar, PR/Marketing Business Economics (3rd year)
Genevieve Cong, Blog Anthropology (4th year)
Jason Chua, Editorial Psychology (4th year)
Adley Wechsler, Events Fine Arts (4th year)
EXECUTIVE BOARD 73
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19-20
FAST MEMBERS
Abby Krieckhaus, Blog
Grace Constable, Blog/Model
Laudan Hosseini, Blog
Michelle Ma, Blog
Alondra Orn, Creative
Avery Edson, Creative/Model
Denali Perera, Creative Francisco Borja, Creative/Design
Tarnue Kpissay, Editorial
Abygail Hernandez, Design
Anna Tsai, Design
Elle Zocco, Design/Model
Moe Moussa, Design/Editorial
Jackie Lopez, Design
Adela Zhao, Design
Nicolina Duhs, Blog
Jenny Lu, Creative
Alden Kramer, Design
Jason Chua, Editorial/Design/Model Lucy Huo, Design
19-20
FAST MEMBERS
Makenzie Hart, Design
Nicholas Chu, Design
Olivia Lamarre, Design
Sabrina Costa, Design
Sarah Shulkin, Design
Alisa Wenci Wang, Editorial
Magie Le, Editorial
Hannah Sacker, Events
Isabelle Roshko, Events
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Phoebe Nguyen, Design
Presley Campbell, Design
Sofia Chang, Design
Steph Kang, Design
Tina Jiangning Tan, Design
Rebecca Lin, Editorial
Caroline Crotty, Events
Catherine LaRue, Events
Lea De Almeida, Events Nicole Pamouktchieva, Events
Sophie Lewis, Events
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19-20
FAST MEMBERS
Bella Piccini, Film
Sruchi Patel, Film
Wudy Wu, Film
Yana Edelen, Film
Alex Saucedo, Finance
Grace Li, Finance
Mary Jane Lin, Finance
Sydney Yang, Finance
Michael Canabarro, Finance
Alexandria Rainge, Model
Alexis McCall, Model
Amelia Thomas, Model
Anam Husain, Model
Angela Sourial, Model
Anna Lockhart, Model
Ashley Garcia, Model
Bhavana Sreepad, Model
Carson Wolff, Model
Christabel Odoi, Model
Cole Summerfelt, Model
19-20
FAST MEMBERS
Emmanuel Ogunrinde, Model
Erik Posadas, Model
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Doruk Karinca, Model
Emmanuel Demian, Model
Gurmukhi Bevli, Model
Iqra Irfan, Model
Kathyhan Nguyen, Model
Kristina Thabet, Model
Mallory Springstead Model
Marcus Vidaurri, Model
Maya Jagannathan, Model
Megan Ngai, Model
Meghan He, Model
Natali Delgadillo, Model
Queena Chu, Model
Rishika Voruganti, Model
Isabella Mattina, Model/Production Joshua Sanchez, Model
Geraldine Gustave, Model
Karson Speth, Model
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19-20
FAST MEMBERS
Rithik Kumar, Model
Rohin Sharma, Model
Soraya Saghbini, Model
Stephen Sirmay Model
Tyler Law, Model
Ashleigh Hookano, Production
Roland Houseman, Model
Ryan Neis, Model
Sophia Luzzi, Model
Taylor Adams, Model
Terri Tang, Model
Ty Koslowski, Model
Emilia Davies, PR/Marketing
Marissa Mah, PR/Marketing
Pritesh Patel, PR/Marketing
Tiffany Jiao, PR/Marketing
Isabel Spooner, Production
Madison Hsieh, Production
Marisa Fatt, Production
Michelle She, Production
19-20
FAST MEMBERS
Carly Pearlman, Sponsorship Jessica Prince, Sponsorship Kristy Hong, Sponsorship
Krystal Tan, Sponsorship
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Melissa Jew, Sponsorship
NOT PICTURED: Adaeze Onwuka, Model Amir Freeman, Design Amy Kimura, PR/Marketing Caitlyn Vergara, Sponsorship/Model Defne Keskin, Model
Fumio Igarashi, Film Hector Esparza, Production Jaden Kim, Blog Jawon Baik, Design JM Malana, Design
Jonas Ross, Film Justin Shue, Model Kayla Wisnowski, Design Leanne Wong, Creative Natalya Hill, Production
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THANK YOU
Special thanks to CPC and ARC for making this possible. To our UCLA advisors & staff, Ashley Pham, our friends and family, and especially our Exec Board and all FAST: Thank you for inspiring us and believing in us.
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