Eastern Connecticut State University’s resident fashion enthusiasts are taking Eastern merch to a new level this spring. The Fashion Forward club on campus is dedicated to establishing a community of fashionistas on campus and keeping everyone up to date on the newest fashion trends. 

“Our club's mission is to spread confidence so members can feel like their most fabulous selves,” said club President Mariana Ramirez. “We also strive to create a judgment-free environment to help everyone embrace their true selves.” 

According to club officials, Fashion Forward tends to have themed events for each meeting, such as decorating tote bags and customizing clothing with pins, patches, and paint. They’ve also collaborated with other clubs, such as Modern Movement, to help their events come alive. 

“Last semester we had the ‘Night of the Enchanted Gala,’ which was our biggest event of the semester. We had great performances by Modern Movement and an R&B group. We also had a high attendance of people who dressed on theme and had beautiful dresses and were able to enjoy the Italian-themed buffet we had for guests,” said the club e-board.

This semester, the club is eagerly preparing for its annual fashion show, featuring a creative reimagination of Eastern’s bookstore apparel. “We tried doing things differently this year,” said club Vice President Kiara Dumeny. “We wanted to bring a surprise element so the audience won’t expect the same thing as previous years, so we’re showing off all the cool merch that Eastern has and making content out of it so other people can get inspiration.”

Dumeny continued: “Since Fashion Forward is so good at aesthetics, I thought it would be good to have students show off their creativity.” 

Art history major Carmelena Jones explained that part of the fun of designing came with challenging oneself to wear styles that one doesn’t normally wear. 

“This was a bit of a challenge for me because I don't wear much loungewear, so I wanted to wear an outfit that I'd feel confident in,” said Jones. “I’m a huge fan of the arts, so I bedazzled my outfit with rhinestones and scarves.” 

Computer science major Jaime Rankins also went for a more casual look, incorporating accessories that matched Eastern’s university colors.  

“Since this is the first time the club has helped out with Eastern swag, I wanted to make a quick, relatable ‘going to class’-type look that was both cute and practical,” she said. 

The club members concurred that establishing a community on campus where students can come together and learn about fashion invigorates participants to explore and expand their personal styles. 

“We think having a fashion community at Eastern is important because many people can meet those with similar interest to them as well as join for fun and explore different fashion trends and interests,” said Ramirez. “Fashion opens many doors, and by having a community on campus, it allows those with interest to have a space where they can feel like themselves without being judged.”