Merging fashion and beauty with a celebration of diversity, tradition and culture, Colgate University’s Africana, Latin, Asian and Native American Cultural Center (ALANA) hosted the fourth annual ALANA Multicultural Fashion Show over Family Weekend. From runway walks to Samoan dances and performances of songs by SZA, students embraced and showed off their different backgrounds at the Oct. 18 event.
Loud cheers and applause welcomed the hosts — junior Langh Guite, an ALANA lead ambassador, and sophomore Koko Nagatomo, an intergroup dialogue intern — onto the stage. Guite’s outfit represented his culture in Myanmar and Nagatomo’s haori showcased her Japanese heritage.
Guite watched the fashion show in 2022 as a first-year and resonated with the positive and heartening atmosphere.
“At that moment, I was inspired by the staff and their immense dedication to inclusivity and cultivating a community,” Guite said. “I was fortunate enough to be hired as an ambassador that same semester, and never would I have thought I would lead this year’s fashion show.”
In the welcoming and high spirited environment, students performed cultural dances. Sophomore Reem Numan, wearing a traditional African dress, waved Ethiopian and Yemeni flags, generating enthusiastic yells from the audience. Numan sang Tatsuro Yamashita’s “Ride on Time.” Numan explained the fascinating history behind the song.
“The song is a crown jewel example of the City Pop genre, which was created by Japan mixing a lot of imported African American and Latin American genres popular throughout the ’70s and ’80s, such as funk, disco, jazz fusion, R&B and bossa nova,” Numan said.
Numan described the experience of performing the song in front of the spectators of the fashion show.
“I felt like I was running on water,” Numan said. “The tight rhythm, upbeat melody and funky bassline make me feel like I’m surfing without a surfboard, unstoppable with no obstacle that I can’t surpass.”
As upbeat and electric music played in the background, models strutted down the runway. Each student sported a unique outfit. One student wore a vibrant yellow dress with sunflower accessories. Other students wore flags draped around their shoulders. Striking poses, students proudly embraced their identity. Sophomore Maryan Eniafe gave the audience a fit-check.
“I really believe fashion is the best way to express yourself and show others how you are feeling on a certain day, a certain week,” Enaife said. “The belt is from Amazon, but the skirt and necklaces are thrifted. And then this top was a gift to me from my mother. It is a modern-traditional Nigerian suit-top.”
Nagatomo shared her excitement at celebrating everyone’s outfits.
“My favorite part of this fashion show is seeing how clothing really reflects our histories, our cultures,” Nagatomo said.
Guite gave a shout out to the students and faculty both behind the scenes and on the stage.
“I appreciate the help of staff members like [ALANA Director] Esther Rosbrook, [Administrative Department Coordinator] Carly Dougher and [Associate ALANA Director] Darline Wattles for making this event possible,” Guite said. “Also, this would not be as successful if it were not for the models. The fashion show is an example of teamwork and community building. It is a blessing to continue the work that came before me, and I hope that we inspire future students to continue the pillars of diversity ALANA stands on.”
