Annual fashion show relocates to the SCAD Museum of Art
Written by Amy Stoltenberg
Photos by Crosby Ignasher
Equipment being set up in the long hall at the SCAD Museum of Art. Photo by Crosby Ignasher
“For SCAD’s 35th anniversary, and for one of SCAD’s most loved signature events, the university chose to do something different [this year], to showcase the work of students within a relatively new and award-winning space. Like the contemporary artwork in the museum, the student collections are pieces of art to be admired, cherished and lauded,” wrote Molly Rowe, SCAD’s director of creative initiatives.
The annual SCAD fashion show was relocated this year from its usual venue at the Trustees Theater to the SCAD Museum of Art. This will be the first year in over a decade that it is held in a new location.
“The models will have a lot more run time than in previous years. I think they will be more confident on the floor-level museum runway versus being on the high platform at the Trustees that made walking a little more unsteady,” said Malikah Cobb, a third year performing arts major from Abbeville, South Carolina, and the personal assistant of Special Projects Coordinator for SCAD, Stephanie Thomas.
This will be Cobb’s third year working backstage at the show. The increased run time for the models means fewer hectic back-stage changes for dressers to perform. “It’s going to be a lot more organized,” said Cobb.
For the models, the increased run time changes the nature of what happens after they leave backstage.
“We’re walking 900 yards altogether, and the audience is just gonna be on the side of the runway,” said model and third year fashion major McKenzie Richardson from Columbia, South Carolina, who will be walking the SCAD fashion show for her second year. “I’m not gonna lie, I’m a little nervous because the walk is three minutes and fifteen seconds long.” (The walk at the Trustees Theater took just thirty seconds).
SCAD Museum of Art and courtyard. Photo by Crosby Ignasher.
On the new floor-level runway, the models will be walking directly in front of the audience, creating a much more intimate relationship between the model, the student collections, and the audience. Fine details like lining, texture and fabric patterns will be easier for the viewer to see.
“Every seat in the house is excellent, and the audience will have the opportunity to appreciate the fine details of the student work as the models pass,” said Rowe.
However, with this interactive dynamic comes a new list of worries for the models.
“I’m afraid of tripping over people’s feet, because sometimes when people are that close, their legs kind of stick out into the runway,” said Richardson. “The models will also probably run out of breath at some point, but we will just have to keep going.”
The runway path also includes an intersection at which the models will have to cross paths with each other. To be successful, each model will have to stay perfectly on beat, or a traffic jam—or, worse, a near-fatal crash—could occur.
For everybody involved in the fashion show, the relocation means learning a completely different way of doing things, from lighting to ticketing to technology. Hopefully, this opportunity to plan the show in a different, creative way will lead to a fresh experience for everyone.
“I think this way is going to look more like a professional runway show, because real runways shows are done in that way with a more interesting, integrated stage instead of regular runway,” said Richardson.
The actual layout of the models’ walk is a surprise for now, but, according to Rowe, the runway will meander throughout the galleries in the museum so the designs will interact with the artwork and architecture of the building.
Said Rowe, “I don’t think that we could dream up a more brilliant location to experience SCAD student collections. It will be an intimate and dynamic runway experience unlike any other.”
