MODA brings ‘Glamour’ back

By Laura Citino
Western Herald

Fashion meets philanthropy this weekend when Western Michigan University’s Merchandising Opportunities Design Association presents its annual “M.O.D.A Glamour” fashion show to benefit the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission.

M.O.D.A. has been putting on fashion shows for seven of its 11-year history. Originally participating as part of a community fashion show at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo, M.O.D.A has since expanded to launch its own show to showcase the talent of its members.

“The fashion shows used to be really small and didn’t have student designers,” M.O.D.A. Public Relations Chair Heather Holland said. “We have a much bigger audience now.”

M.O.D.A. debuted its first fashion show in 2002, presenting “Fusion” to give the organization and its variously talented members more recognition throughout the Kalamazoo community.

Jo Wei Looi/Western Herald - Jillian Billingham holds a pose momentarily during MODA’s Spring 2009 fashion show held at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo.

Ever since then, “Fusion” continues to bring its fashionable excitement to Kalamazoo each spring. The success of that show has given M.O.D.A. a proper spotlight and heightened the anticipation, and expectations, for future shows — this weekend’s dual productions included.

While the M.O.D.A. shows have most recently taken place at the Radisson, this year sees the group returning to campus and setting up its production in the Bernhard Center, where past fashion shows have taken place.

“It’s strange in a way that we’re going back,” Holland said, “but they’re really excited to be working with us.”

The Bernhard Center East Ballroom I, where both shows will be taking place, is the perfect spacious venue for this large-scale event.

Thirty student designers and 48 volunteer student models form the bulk of the event’s participants, while many M.O.D.A. members will also be on hand to work front and back stage, assisting those performing in the show.

Local businesses from Kalamazoo also get in on the action. Hairstylists from Modern 3 Salon and Spa, located on Howard Street just off of campus, will be donating their services for the show.
Blue Granite, Inc., a Kalamazoo-based business intelligence company, will also be sponsoring “Glamour.”

Ever since the debut of “Fusion,” M.O.D.A. has been entrenched in the world of charity work.

For “Glamour” and its other fall shows, M.O.D.A. has decided to bring its charitable angle even closer to home, focusing on organizations in and around Kalamazoo and Western Michigan University. This fall, M.O.D.A. looks to the needs of Kalamazoo’s downtown needs.

“This fall, we have chosen to give back to the local community by donating to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission,” M.O.D.A. President Deanna Ansara said. “It’s important to our organization to support those less fortunate, especially during the holiday season.”

The Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, located in downtown on North Burdick Street, serves local homeless or abused men, women and children in Kalamazoo County. The Christian non-profit organization offers meals, clothing, emergency shelter, and other necessary services to those in need.

Another change for M.O.D.A. this year is the beneficial addition of the Western Student Association’s Student Assessment Fee. Receiving the fee allows M.O.D.A to independently fund the show, and so the organization can then put the money raised from ticket sales solely toward their charity of choice. That means much more money for the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission and its services.
“We just got WSA funding for the first time, and because of that we’re able to donate all of our proceeds to our charity this year,” Holland said.

“That’s definitely the biggest change this year. We’ll be able to donate almost twice as much.”

All of the featured designers are student members of WMU’s M.O.D.A. chapter. Although many students in M.O.D.A. are, like its founding members, Textile and Apparel Studies majors looking to pursue careers in fashion, that is not the case across the board. M.O.D.A. offers opportunities to work in the fashion and design industries for students of all majors, including communications, public relations, tech and sound design, and others.

Boasting a roster of almost 120 student members, M.O.D.A. is one of the largest registered student organizations at WMU.

Add the philanthropic side to two nights full of original fashion-forward student designs, and charitable donations never looked so good.

M.O.D.A. presents “M.O.D.A. Glamour” on Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5 in East Ballroom I in the WMU Bernhard Center.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for VIP ticket holders and 7:30 for general admission ticket holders. Tickets are $5 for students, $8 general admission, and $25 for VIP. Tickets for VIP seating are not available at the door and must be purchased in advance. For questions about M.O.D.A. contact modawmu@gmail.com.

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Posted by HeraldAdmin on Dec 3 2009. Filed under A & E, Weekend Scene. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
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