Written by Katherine Adams
Indigenize: The Vault’s Take on Inclusivity Within Fashion
One of the highlights of The Vault’s Spring 2024 Semester was the presentation of “Indigenize”, a fashion show highlighting several students’ designs based on their backgrounds. Held on May 4th at the Mosse Humanities building courtyard, this event marked the culmination of months of sewing, networking, and planning. Complete with photographers and a screen-printing area, members enjoyed the collaborative ambiance while experiencing the show.
Several creatives were highlighted alongside the designers, namely Kabir Chawla and his enthralling drum composition, Mme Delali and her beautiful, explosive delivery of her self-written lyrics, and Ananya Rajesh with a stunning display of a Bharatanatyam dance. Their contribution to the show was immensely well-received, providing a much needed addition to the histories and cultures represented in the pieces modeled.
Prominent member of The Vault and pioneer of “Indigenize”, Pranav Volety was the primary creative director and the mind behind this project. As someone who has proven immensely impactful in the design and media industry, his background is evident in the precision and effectiveness with which he was able to carry this event out. His passion for continuing to represent diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of his pursuits make him an influential leader and a successful creator. For him, this project was essential to bring to The Vault as it provided a space for individuals to showcase their cultural ingenuity other than the club’s other semesterly themed fashion show.
As one of the most impactful pillars of belief within The Vault, representing DEI is increasingly important to its members. A longstanding aspect of our society without enough allocated awareness, DEI deserves to be delineated just as significantly as it impacts our lives. Events such as this evidence our dedication to promoting inclusivity both within our club and for the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a whole. Moreover, this university as well as this very museum stand on Ho Chunk land and the 11 other First Nations of what now is known as Wisconsin. There is a serious need within spaces like these for a better future, one that we as The Vault intend to be a proponent of.
As both videoed and experienced, “Indigenize” was a highly-successful event; well-rounded and thoroughly thought-out. Members remarked on the integrity of the designs, the skill of the performers, and the importance of the overarching message. The event was pivotal in fostering creative conversations within The Vault as well as promoting a community that recognizes its cultural influences. In the future, events such as this one will serve as blueprints for many iterations to come.
