‘Eccentric sensation’ fashion show raises money for Multiple Sclerosis research
Danielle Flowers, sophomore fashion design major, does the model’s make up behind the scenes of the Multiple Sclerosis Benefit Fashion Show, March 28. Photo by Chelsae Ketchum.
March 29, 2012
The Exquisite Inc. Modeling Troupe raised $500 for Multiple Sclerosis research at the fourth annual MS Benefit Fashion Show Wednesday night.
The theme of the show was eccentric sensation, which includes styles similar to Lady Gaga, said Jazmine Woods, freshman news major and Exquisite model.
The show, which took place in the Student Center Ballroom, included collections from six designers and dances from AFOE and Legacy, two dance teams at Kent State.
Tickets were $5 in advance, or $10 at the door. All proceeds went to the Kym Sellers Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis.
“We don’t get 10 percent or 5 percent,” Woods said. “Absolutely all of the money will go to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.”
Cory Froomkin, junior broadcast journalism major, hosted the event.
“This is the type of stuff I kind of want to do one day,” Froomkin said. “I know when I anchor one day, I’ll have to do stuff like this so it’s good practice.”
Diamond Towns, junior marketing major and Exquisite president, said Exquisite Inc. also hosts a Fall into Fashion show during fall semester.
For all of Exquisite’s shows, Towns said any Kent State student can model and design.
“We try to uplift the community through the art of modeling,” Towns said. “We accept people of all shapes, sizes and colors.”
Towns said the shows also have no judges and no winners. She said all of the models and designers are students of a wide variety of majors.
One of the designers, Mary “Skittles” is a 2010 Kent State graduate. Skittles owns her own clothing company, Cupcake Mafia.
Skittles said 20 percent of all proceeds go to Save the Cupcakes, a breast cancer foundation she created.
“There’s a lot of street wear options for men, but not so much for women,” Skittles said. ”I wanted to unite women with a street wear collection they could be loyal to.”
Skittles said some of her products are available at her clothing store in Cleveland, but her full line is available online at www.cupcakemafiats.com
In addition to Exquisite’s two main fashion shows, Towns said Exquisite models and designers are often asked to work on other organization’s shows.
“We are just a fashion type of ordeal — it’s for every student,” Woods said. “For example, I’m a broadcast journalism major. I like to model, I enjoy fashion and I like to meet other students.”
Contact Lyndsey Sager at [email protected].
