The Black Student Association (BSA) is holding their 27th annual Fashion Show at Reitz Arena on Friday, March 27th, at 8:00 p.m. The fashion show focuses on Black culture, putting a spotlight on fashion created by and popularized by Black people throughout the decades.
This year’s theme for the fashion show is ‘The Black Print’, chosen by directors Daniel Carter, Renee Jones, Devonn Rochester, and Sa’mya Tanner. This specific theme and show plans to showcase how Black Americans have made massive contributions to mainstream culture.
Administrative Director of this year’s Fashion Show, Daniel Carter ‘26 said how this year’s show is a representation of the major waves created by Black Americans in all things culture, not only in the United States, but beyond.
“The show is about how Black people are the blueprint of culture, especially in America. So I think the thing that really excites me about this year’s show is just seeing that vision played out in each scene, because each scene is like a different time period… it’s just a lot of fun seeing how it all comes together,” Carter said.
Renee Jones ‘26, Communications Director of this year’s Fashion Show, said how this year’s show is a way for Black Americans to reclaim some of the unrecognized contributions made to mainstream culture.
“We’re basically encapsulating a lot of Black culture and the influence of Black culture… a lot of times within Black culture, we are not acknowledged for what we are contributing to society. And I feel like with this theme, we’re basically saying to, you know, the Loyola community, the public, that this is what we did, and we’re reclaiming it,” Jones said.
Devonn Rochester ‘26 is a Creative Director for this year’s show; This will be his fourth fashion show at Loyola. He shares how warm and welcoming of an environment the fashion show is, allowing for all types of self expression to be celebrated. Through his leadership role, he is now taking part in continuing to make this a safe space for fashion show newcomers.
“One of the most important things when I first came to the fashion show was how safe I felt, how welcomed I felt. And I wanted to kind of bring that along with me, allow others when they come in to feel safe, like they belong, and they deserve to be cheered on,” Rochester said.
BSA’s fashion shows have been a formative experience for anyone and everyone involved. Fashion shows can help build confidence, meet new friends, and embark on new experiences. Jones says that this character building is the most important thing about the shows. She recognizes all of the potential that newcomers possess.
“Seeing them grow from September to the day of the fashion show, there is a stark difference from where they started in terms of confidence. And I think that the most important thing about the fashion show is that we’re able to communicate with people and encourage people to become something that they weren’t before,” Jones said.
Joanna Oladipo ‘26, a first year model at the fashion show, shares how much of a welcoming community there is, and how she was able to meet new friends and bond with them over long hours in preparation for the show.
“It was just like hanging out with them and doing the choreo and having fun. So it was stressful, but in a good way because you bonded with the people around you… be prepared for the dancing, the walks, the faces, and the melanin,” Oladipo said.
Click this link to buy your ticket to the 27th Annual BSA Fashion Show: The Black Print before they sell out!