By Karen Alava | Staff Writer
For the members of the Worn/Reborn: Alternative Fashion Club at FIU, fashion isn’t just about what you wear; it’s about the stance you take. Student organizers gathered on April 3rd for a fashion show preparation for “We The People,” an upcoming immersive experience designed to challenge the cultural dissonance and anti-immigration sentiments shaping modern America.
The meeting served as the tactical launchpad for a summer showcase that promises to be more than a passive runway. By using fashion as storytelling, the club aims to remind the community that neutrality in the face of injustice is no longer an option.
Leading the charge is Sahaira Paz, a 19-year-old mechanical engineering sophomore and president of the Alternative Fashion Club. Her definition of “alternative” focuses less on aesthetic trends and more on a mindset of resistance.
“Alternative is not just dressing differently,” Sahaira says. “It’s thinking differently and wanting to make a change.”
Sahaira Paz, President of FIU’s Alternative Fashion Club | Karen Alava, PantherNOW
That desire for change is taking the club off-campus. On May 22, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, the club will host a major showcase at Urban Studios on Lincoln Road. The event is a massive collaborative effort, bringing together FIU’s YDSA and Icebreakers clubs, along with students from various colleges across South Florida.
Worn/Reborn | Karen Alava, PantherNOW
With a second show already being eyed for the fall, the club is currently in a high-growth phase. They are looking for more than just clothes-hangers; they are looking for advocates.
The club is currently recruiting for an activism team responsible for promoting the event’s message and social impact, models and designers.
Additionally, they have opened e-board applications that will be reviewed through the end of May.
“We The People” is a call to action for all students to “show up” and prove that creative resistance has a permanent home in Miami.
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