BUB’s Fashion Rebellion showcases clothing creations

By Radhika Bansil

The Executive Dining Room in LaCava was transformed this past Sunday, March 3 to host Black United Body’s 13th annual fashion show. At 7 pm dozens of people gathered around waiting for the “Fashion Rebellion” to begin.

This year’s fashion show not only celebrated the richness and beauty behind African culture, but also instilled in audiences the excitement and energy that had them cheering till the last minute. Hosted by local radio star Kathleen St. Fleur and our very own Marcus Payne, the show did not disappoint.

This year, seven local designers participated in the event. The first line down the runway was created by L.O.R. L’or, meaning gold in French. It was created by two students from Northeastern University, Dorothy Mensah and Krista Pottinger. These clothes were designed for men and women rich in strength, individualism, and wisdom. The clothes themselves were inspired by African and Jamaican design. Earth tones and printed fabric were the common themes of the line. These garments were bold and risqué, and had audiences roaring with appreciation.

The next line was created by Suave Life. The founders of Suave Life are not only fashion designers, but a music group as well as social activists; they host major events throughout the year to promote peace and breast-cancer awareness. Their clothing line consists of casual attire but these are not your usual set of sweats. The t-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and leggings all display the Suave Life logo and combine style and comfort to create a truly unique line of garments.

Touch the Sky Clothing, commonly referred to as T.T.S., is a line in which the message behind the clothing is as strong as the designs are bold. The company was founded by Timothy Lassiter and Your’majesty Gilmore when they were in high school. T.T.S. promoted a line of t-shirts in the BUB fashion show meant to be an alternative to ignorant fashion. Their clothes are meant to promote productivity and a positive attitude.

A positive attitude is also what designer Mone Rivera promoted in her line. Her design aesthetic is extremely unconventional as she mixes and matches various fabrics, patterns, and colors to create a one-of-a-kind design. Each garment has its own, strong personality.

Next up was BlixBoy Clothing and Company. This collection took the recent bow-tie trend to new levels, mixing fabrics like knit, fur, cashmere, and leather to create an exquisite line of bowties. The company promotes success for young entrepreneurs. The line is inspired by 18th century fashion, and was a huge crowd pleaser. In fact, BlixBoy Clothing and Company featured their collection in the prestigious New York, Boston, and Chicago Fashion weeks in the past and was recently invited to be showcased in this fall’s Fashion Week in London.

The second to last designer goes by the name M.A.R.S, which stands for Most Aggressive Relentless Style. Their mission is to couple novel design and quality in order to bring the most value to their customer. They understand style is an extension of the self and they seek to bring out the inner animal in their customers. Their collection features risqué clothing with a lot of animal print.

Last but not least was Jhoanka and Company; the founders seek to bring out the confidence, sensuality, elegance, and sophistication in their customers. This line consisted of colorful and glamorous dresses inspired by the designer’s Caribbean roots. These pieces are all made to celebrate women and all that they represent.

The fashion show was a tremendous success and a huge crowd pleaser. If you missed it, be sure to catch the pictures online and attend BUB’s fashion show next spring.