Kennesaw State hosted a fashion show Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. to celebrate Transgender Awareness Month, featuring student designers’ work, student models and local drag queens Szn Alxndr and Tugboat the Queen.
The LGBTQ Resource Center, Atlanta Pride, KSU School of Art and Design Textiles + Surface Design Department and Close-Knit Textiles Clubcollaborated to put on the fashion show that took place in the Wilson Student Center.
According to the show’s program, eight students modeled the work of 21 student designers from the KSU Apparel and Textiles Program and the Close-Knit Textiles Club.
The models displayed a variety of different fashion styles. Glittering gowns and pastel tulle trains made an appearance, but even casual clothes like a knitted sweater adorning a peace symbol and a hot pink puffer jacket had a chance to shine.
KSU’s recent fashion show was the first that the school hosted to celebrate Transgender Awareness Month, LGBTQ Resource Center Program Coordinator Mandy Gillis said.
Transgender Awareness Month is a time to celebrate transgender identities and recognize the struggles that transgender people face, including discrimination, violence and a lack of gender-affirming healthcare options, according to Fenway Health.
Gillis said that they developed the idea for the fashion show after talking to transgender students about what an important role clothing plays in personal gender expression.
“I wanted to make an outfit I would experience gender euphoria in if I wore [it],” KSU student and designer Arlis West said.
Szn Alxndr and Tugboat the Queen kicked off the show and talked about the importance of Transgender Awareness Month before the models did their first walk down the runway.
Throughout the night, the student models made multiple rounds down the runway to show off all of the different looks. As the models changed into their different outfits backstage, Szn Alxndr and Tugboat the Queen entertained the audience with lip-sync performances and comedic banter. A playlist featuring several LGBTQ+ musical artists set the backdrop for the show.
According to the show’s program, the designers repurposed clothing from the LGBTQ Resource Center to create new outfits. “Everything I had was all thrifted or gifted, all of my supplies,” designer West said.
According to West, the Bachelor of Technology in Apparel and Textiles offered at KSU is changing to include more of an emphasis on fashion design, instead of focusing solely on business. This program, together with the Close-Knit Textiles Club, offers many new opportunities to KSU students interested in fashion design.
The show also promoted the TRANScend community group, a place for transgender and gender non-conforming students to connect and share their experiences with one another, according to the show’s program.
Students looking to get involved with the local LGBTQ+ community can participate in programs offered at the LGBTQ Resource Center, join one of the center’s community groups, or learn more about Atlanta Pride at the organization’s website.
Meanwhile, interested fashion-forward students can follow the KSU Apparel and Textiles Program and the Close-Knit Textiles Club on Instagram at @ksu_textiledesign and @ksucloseknit, respectively.
Szn Alxndr and Tugboat the Queen can also be found on Instagram at @szn_alxndr and @tugboatthequeen.
