 "Photo: Nathaniel LaRue")
Music pulsed and models strutted and twirled in front of more than 40 people at the first Fair Trade Advocates’ Fashion Show last night. The fashion show was part of Fair Trade Week at K-State.
The models were all volunteers from Fair Trade Advocates, Student Governing Association and other student organizations. The clothing, bags and jewelry models demonstrated were loaned from Fair Trade Certified companies like Urban Haat, Marketplace India, Global Mamas and AWAZ. Everything featured at the show will be available at the Fair Trade Market in the K-State Student Union beginning today at 10 a.m.
“I think it’s a great way to show the diversity of clothing that is available through Fair Trade vendors,” said Stephanie Alderman-Oler, senior in secondary education and president of K-State Fair Trade Advocates.
Fair Trade companies follow regulations to ensure people in third-world countries who make their products are paid a fair price. Companies not certified might use sweatshops where employees often are paid very little and forced to work long hours in unsafe environments.
Several models felt using humor would help to get the message across.
“Things like this need a degree of humor,” said Matt DeCapo, senior in architectural engineering. He illustrated his point by showing off some dance moves and funny poses on the catwalk, earning some laughs from the audience.
DeCapo said he became interested in Fair Trade after going on a trip to India with Engineers Without Borders, an organization that helps developing countries with issues, such as renewable energy sources and sanitation. DeCapo said the experience of traveling to a developing country changed him.
“It made me wonder about humans’ priorities,” said DeCapo. “In this country, we spend so much time, resources, energy on comforting ourselves and providing more ways to entertain ourselves.”
Nathan Retta, senior in chemical engineering and member of Fair Trade Advocates, was pleased by the number of people who came to the fashion show. Retta volunteered to model when he found out they were short on male models for the show.
“I was happy to participate,” Retta said. “The camera loves me.”
Malcolm Dofat, freshman in computer science, said he attended the show because several friends asked him to. Dofat said he liked the show and he would try to make time to come to the marketplace with his friends.
The Fair Trade Market runs today and Thursday in the Union from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In addition to clothing and accessories, the market also will feature Fair Trade Certified products such as coffee and chocolate. Local participating vendors include Rockstar and Rogers, located at 715 N. 12th Street and T-La-Re, located at 2047 Fort Riley Blvd.
Fair Trade Week concludes this Sunday with the third-annual Hunger Banquet at the ECM Church at 1021 Denison Ave., at 6 p.m. The purpose of the banquet is to raise awareness about world hunger issues. For more information about Fair Trade or any of these events, contact the Fair Trade Advocates at fta@ksu.edu
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