“Fashion from around the globe will be in Akron. The University of Akron organization Student and Fashion Professionals United will rock the runway with its Spring Fashion Show on Sunday. Major fashion capitals will take center stage. In the show, titled Fashions from the Capitals, models and UA designers will give Akronites a taste of Paris, Milan, New York City, Tokyo and London.”
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Fashion from around the globe will be in Akron.

The University of Akron organization Student and Fashion Professionals United will rock the runway with its Spring Fashion Show on Sunday. Major fashion capitals will take center stage.

In the show, titled Fashions from the Capitals, models and UA designers will give Akronites a taste of Paris, Milan, New York City, Tokyo and London.

Akron student Rosalyn Bishop, the organization’s president, said the group has been preparing, promoting, casting, searching and sewing since September in preparation for their biggest event of the year.

The people we have selected (to be involved) have been on the top of their game, she said. We want the show to be our big finale. This is what we’ve been working on all year.

Bishop not only prepared the entire show, cast the models and found the designers, but is an aspiring designer with several pieces in the show. She designed three ensembles for each city and even worked with a tailor to bring her pieces to perfection.

I am a Beyonce fan, and when I design, that is who I have in mind, she said.

However, Bishop did encounter a little trouble when it came to finding quality local artists.

We didn’t know where we were going to get our designers from, she said.

To find her talent, she turned to MySpace and word of mouth.

University of Akron student Charity Kemp, and a local designer of the women’s clothing line called I Am She, has several pieces in the show.

My clothing styles are pretty much a simple silhouette with splashes of excitement and attitude using different colors and color combinations, Kemp said It’s pretty much just a reflection of who I am.

Anny Sayarath, a sophomore will model Kemp’s designs and can’t wait to strut her stuff on the catwalk.

I love her design. It’s really different and creative, Sayarath said. It has a lot of color and a lot of girls are going to love it.

Sayarath has some local modeling experience, but still gets nervous butterflies upon approaching the stage.

Once I walk down the runway, I’m fine, she admitted. I love it because when you’re on the runway, you get all this attention, and everyone is focused on you.

Another UA student debuting his clothing line at the show is Courtnee Waltyr. He specializes in male design and wants to redefine the typical male garb and replace it with his unique vision.

I wanted to paint a new picture for the 2007 male, he said. It’s a street chic, meets retro, meets the average man.

Waltyr explained that, being a new organization, they had to deal with some criticism from those outside of the group. However, he doesn’t let that break his game.

I take the drama, and I take all the haters, and I put them on my back and keep them there, he said with a smile. There’s no one else like us in this world. We’re the fabulous of the fabulous of the fabulous.

Because she’s trying a fashion show for the first time, Bishop is nervous, but her excitement and anticipation outshine her fear.

You can expect greatness at the show. It’s going to be really professional, she said.

Fashions from the Capitals will hit the runway on Sunday at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom A.

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