Back to Black.

The 17th Annual AATS Fashion Expose 

Kierra Leggett | Editor-in-Chief

Uvana Doran, a senior in Fashion Merchandising at North Carolina A&T won first place in the Intermediate category of the 17th annual African American Textile Society’s Fashion Expose. Surrounded

by her models backstage after the show Doran said the experience of winning first place was, “wonderful.” According to the designer, this year’s fashion expose was her “first formal showcase.”

Doran’s collection, “Retro Chic:  Ying-Yang” featured curve hugging dresses with a color palette that consisted primarily of black and white. This fit right in with the theme of this year’s show, “Back to Black.” According to Lisa Redfearn, Co-Chair of the show, the purpose of this  simplistic theme was in part, to show-off the “art and skill that it takes to develop a collection.”

Redfearn, who served as chairperson for last year’s show said planning for this year’s event was a bit easier because she had one year of experience under her belt as well as a Co- Chair that she could share responsibility with. Redfearn and Diamond Jackson, Co-Chairs for the event began planning in the fall semester, before renovations to Talley and the Talley Ballroom in which it was held, were complete. According to Jackson, the planning committee made sure that they had everything else together so that when it came time for them figure out how things would work in the ballroom, they would be ready. “Because it wasn’t until a couple weeks ago in the beginning of March, that we could really see which part of the room we could use, how the stage would be set up, and what was going to be available to us technology wise, we recognized that stress would be a part of the process and made sure that everything else was in tact so that we could just roll with the punches.”

The Tuesday night show featured designs from a total of 26 designers and was sponsored by The N.C. State Inter-Residence Council, Union Activities Board, Belk, N.C. State Student Government and Tompkins Textile Student Council.

The majority of designers who competed in the showcase, did so in the novice category. Among them was Lisa Hong, a sophomore in Fashion and Textile Management won first place in the Novice category with her collection, “Skyfall.” Hoang’s collection included lots of bling and some pieces that resembled the regalia of a queen.

Also competing in the Novice category was Miranda Goode, a junior in Fashion and Textile Management. Goode’s collection “Street Decadance,” featured lots of black, gold and white. The designer, who took to the stage in a lace robe and black jumper described her collection as “sexy and very bold.” She also said that she could imagine a celebrity such as singer Rihanna wearing her collection.

Charnessa Hamlett, a junior in Fashion and Textile Management and the 1st place winner in the novice category of last year’s show, returned to the AATS Fashion Expose in the Intermediate category. Hamlett said her collection this year was much different from her last. “This year I used color,” said Hamlett. “I used all my favorite colors.”

According to Edward Brown, Director of Diversity Programs and Assistant Director of Student Services, this was the first time that the AATS Fashion Expose sold out. Hosted this year by Jazmyne Childs, a junior in political science and DJ Dez of WKNC’s Smooth 60, the AATS Fashion Expose is the longest running fashion show at N.C. State.