Fashion as a Foundation for Relation

Because the runway for aLIVE will be accentuated with cultural accessories, I thought it an exciting venture to learn more about foreign dress first-hand.  World Relief coordinated a meeting, and I was given the opportunity to gain insight on the beauty of Somalian dress.  After having been in the United States for only a month, two Somalian women welcomed me with open arms and genuine smiles.

Layers of fabric were pulled out of closets, as the women showed me their hijab, shalmad, gogarad, bati, (the list goes on).  I grew a large appreciation their culture's "style".  There was delicate beauty in fabrics and strength/personality in the colors and patterns.

I enjoyed playing dress-up with these beautiful women.  In this case, fashion became our foundation to relate.  While it can have the ability to separate, it can also have the power to bring together.  This is what aLIVE Fashion Show aims to do!