VCUarts Fashion Show 2026: Synergy

During my Spring semester of 2026, I got the opportunity to work on the VCUarts Fashion Show, Synergy. This class gave me real-world experience in the fashion industry and allowed me to see how much work goes into producing a show. Not only was I working with student designers, but I was also one of the main communication lines to the models. I was put into the model committee, and I wanted to challenge myself with this opportunity because I knew it would push me to grow. I always had to keep a main line of communication open for models while keeping an organized spreadsheet of their conflicts and availability. I was in charge of sending all emails for model call, model training, acceptance, coordinating fittings, dress rehearsal, and making sure all models showed up the day of the show. I was honored to work with my professor, Professor Davis, and the directors in the class who helped me gain a deeper understanding of the role I was taking on. The model committee was made up of three students in total, including the director, who had taken the class previously and guided us through our tasks, and my classmate and I, who were both learning how to do everything for the first time.

The biggest task I was challenged with was conflict resolution. If there was any missed

information or time conflicts that were mandatory for a model, I was responsible for finding a solution for them. On top of communication, I had to stay organized with my other classmates in the committee to make sure we were all on the same page. We had several spreadsheets where we had to update each of the 80 models for specific requests, conflicts, and any changes they might have. This class made me feel more comfortable using Excel spreadsheets because of how diligent and detail-oriented I had to be with them. If I made a mistake, it could create a domino effect for the rest of the show, so accuracy was extremely important. This responsibility taught me how to stay calm under pressure and how to problem-solve quickly.

This class created a space that felt like an internship for me. I got to connect with design professors who taught me the other side of Fashion Merchandising and helped me understand how design and production work together. I also became more comfortable using my voice in a professional setting, especially when communicating with large groups of models. Even though this opportunity was still a class, I was learning every single day, even outside of class time. I would be on late phone calls while still juggling my other responsibilities, which pushed me to grow in my time management skills. I had to manage my time wisely, or else I wouldn’t have performed to the best of my ability, and I knew I was capable of doing well if I stayed focused.

I was able to see all of the hard work that goes into a fashion show. Not only are the designers contributing, but so are the people who work behind the scenes to make everything run smoothly.

Making sure each model has a garment that fits, checking that we are in the right range of timing for two shows each day, and making sure models are aware of the choreography they are doing once they walk on stage were all major responsibilities. I got to work with other committees, including those who made sure all models were changed into their next garment in time, social media teams who advertised the show, ticketing and guides who helped the audience, and most importantly, the music team. It takes a whole team of different committees to create something extraordinary, and teamwork was truly a key role in this success. Seeing how each group contributed made me appreciate the production process even more.

With 800 people coming to this show, VCUarts Fashion had the opportunity to show people what we were working on. I loved how busy everything was, and although it was tiring work, the feeling after we finished the second show was amazing. It was a wave of pride that we all felt for each other and for what we had accomplished together. Seeing each committee’s hard work pay off was such a rewarding experience, and it made me even more excited about my future in the fashion industry. This show reminded me why I love fashion and why I want to continue pursuing opportunities like this. It was an experience I will always hold to a high standard because of how much I learned and how much I grew.