Fashion Moguls Memphis (FMM), a newly formed University of Memphis organization, will host its debut fashion show, titled #reWERKd, on Monday, March 24, in the University Center Theatre at 7 p.m.
“It’s a different approach to fashion; it’s not just able the labels. It’s about using what you’ve got and adding your flare to it,” said Christina Dang, Fashion Moguls Memphis president.
Members of FMM collaborated with each other to redesign and create new garments to be modeled and sold during the show. Lena Ray, one of the stylists for the show, said she is anticipating the response of the audience to the shows approach towards fashion.
“I look forward to seeing how the people react to the clothes that we created,” Ray said. “A lot of the clothing we reworked for the show were donated by students at the University of Memphis that they didn’t want.”
FMM hosted a clothing drive at the university in December 2013 and January 2014. The clothing donated during the clothing drive that was not used in the show was donated to Clothes4Souls.
Every model in the show will be wearing two #reWERKed garments partnered with clothing provided by local boutiques: Wish, Langford Market, Crazy Beautiful and Plato’s Closet.
“I feel like everybody is tied to St. Jude in some way,” Dang said. “Our marketing chair’s brother was a patient there. His story is really captivating and really motivating.”
A short documentary will be shown during the show of former St. Jude patient Shon Coleman’s progress after being release from the hospital.
The show is said to be full of surprises and entertainment for the audience.
“We really tried to step outside of the box as far as designing and creating,” Ray said.
A contest will be held during the show on the FMM Instagram page, giving the audience a chance to win a free #reWERKd garment. There will also be a surprise performance. Dang is sure the audience will find to be “awesome.”
The idea for the show came from Dang while creating FMM in 2013.
“Fashion is so versatile. You have people who buy and sale; people who design and create; people who market and promote; people who write about it,” Dang said. “We appeal to all of that, so that everyone gets a taste of what they want to do. If there aren’t opportunities here, we try to create them.”
Dang said she is hoping this show will get their name into the community and receive a positive response.
“I’m hoping we gain more awareness in Memphis with the fashion scene and making sure people are aware that we do have something here,” Dang said. “We’re not just a ghost town when it comes to fashion.”
The event is free to the public. Photos of some of the garments that were donated to be recreated can be found on the FMM event page.