Fashion club president and founder, senior Marissa Campos models her designed garments. “We were just getting it all together, trying to get that real vibe of a fashion show, kind of like a school version of the Met Gala,” Campos said. (Courtesy Nila Amin)

WJ’s student commons transformed into a vibrant runway on Friday, May 16 as the school’s Fashion Club hosted its first ever fashion show. With music booming, lights flashing and students cheering, the event was a celebration of self-expression, creativity and months of hard work.

Senior Marissa Campos, who founded the Fashion Club during her freshman year, was a huge contributor to the show.

“We have eight designers that stuck to the process, start to finish, which is really impressive,” Campos said. “It’s just showcasing all their hard work and dedication that they put in throughout the year.”

Campos has long dreamed of putting on a fashion show at WJ since her freshman year. After a lot of dedication, Campos finally brought that vision to life thanks to a committed group of students.

“This year we had a great group of students who really stuck through it,” Campos said. “So we were able to bring it all to life.”

The show featured a wide range of designs, from grunge inspired pieces to whimsical spring florals, even showcasing one outfit themed around popcorn.

“Everyone’s showcasing their own personal style,” Campos said. “It’s all different, but it flows because everyone is just bringing their unique self.”

The planning process began at the start of the school year but intensified after winter break. Organizing the event required securing a date, finding a location, coordinating models and even arranging catering.

“[The process for creating the garments] was kind of challenging for a lot of us,” sophomore and secretary of the fashion club Henry Wheaton Schoop said. “We managed to get all of it done on time [with] a lot of workshops and time to sew and make the projects.”
Audience members were impressed by the variety and boldness of the looks.

“All the outfits were stunning,” junior Gabi DeCampos said. “They came down the runway with music pumping and speakers sharing the details of their designs, which I thought brought the whole thing together. It was amazing seeing all the different types of designs from all the different types of designers.”

Campos said among her favorite parts of the experience was teaching others how to sew and seeing her peers try on their completed outfits.

“So many of them, it was their first time [sewing],” Campos said. “There were frustrating parts, but when they saw the final result, they were so excited and proud.”

“Seeing the smiles on their faces when they put on their final looks, that’s something I’ll never forget,” Campos said.
Beyond the clothes, Campos hopes the event shines a light on a lesser known area of the arts at WJ.

“Fashion and design aren’t always super hyped up here,” Campos said. “I want people to see there’s more to the art world than what WJ usually offers.”

Fashion club provides students with a comfort to express their creativity and show others what they are capable of.

“Just be yourself. Don’t worry about what others think. Just express yourself through fashion. If you love it, that’s all that matters,” Campos said.

With a runway full of student talent and energy, the Fashion Club’s debut show proved that at Walter Johnson, style has a seat at the table and on the catwalk.