metamorphosis - The Vault’s SS24 FASHION SHOW
written by Roan Vaughn
see the video to the right to go behind-the-scenes of the process.
On April 20th, 2024, The Vault held its end-of-semester fashion show at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA). The show highlighted the museum’s main exhibition: Federico Uribe’s Metamorphosis. Uribe’s philosophy revolves around the ideas that bend the norm of how animals can be used, stating “People kill animals to make shoes; I make animals out of shoes.” This reworking of basic textural and design choices creates innovative styles of art that subvert the audience's expectations, leaving them craving more.
Act 1:
The first section of the show turned everyday, non fashion-related objects into centerpieces of outfits. “Pinch Couture,” designed by Ava Beydoun ‘26 and worn by Lucy Kenevan, focused on clothespins interlocked to form a loose-fitting top. Lili Vojdovich and Cece Klein’s pieces followed with an equally impressive top and pants set, modeled by Suzannah Rawling, made almost exclusively from soda can tabs. Using around 30,000 tabs donated by a longtime collector, the outfit’s intricacies seamlessly blend a normal pair of denim with the silver shine of the soda tabs. One of the outfits that prompted an audible reaction from the audience was the Balloon Dress made by Dawn from Pop Art Entertainment, a family-owned balloon-twisting Business in the Madison Area. Not only did the dress awe the crowd, but it served as an example of using sustainable materials in a new technical and creative way. Ultimately, both designs highlight the power of repurposed materials.
Act 2: Growth and Decay
To kick off the second act, Veronica Mingle presented the “Day Dreamer” collection, showcasing 16 designs that were certainly a highlight of the show. Mingle honed in on a popular subspace of upcycling, focusing on quilts, blankets, curtains, and other patterned fabrics. Some highlights of the collection include an upcycled floral tracksuit and a crocheted top and flared legging combination, each serving as modern takes on textures and patterns that bring nostalgic feelings to the audience.
Additionally, modeled by Riley Russel, Henri Clarke ‘26 created “Cocoon.” While simply looking at its surface, “Cocoon” revealed multiple layers. Inspired by the cocoon stage of a butterfly’s life, the outfit’s multiple pieces contribute to it’s multitude of wearing possibilities. With two buttoned pieces that allow for more adjustable openings, this piece was visually appealing and served countless purposes. It will be in the next collection of Henri’s clothing brand, the THR Studio.
The show wrapped up with the Lunar Moth, designed and modeled by Gwyn Allen. Capturing a brilliant end to a long journey taken throughout the process of metamorphosis, the costume capped off a fantastic buildup of outfits that modeled each of the previous stages. The excitement brought forth by the final design could be heard in the crowd, who let out audible gasps at the beauty in its details.
Through three semesters of fashion shows, The Vault’s creative development has progressed exponentially. Starting with a small fashion show inspired by Homer’s The Odyssey, to a collaboration with nationally-recognized artist, (insert artist name), the organization has come a long way from its inception in late 2022.
“Metamorphosis” highlights The Vault’s ability to bring together talented individuals on and off the UW-Madison campus, and showcases the two organization’s teams working flawlessly in tandem. With many more events to come, including a collaboration with many UW-Madison Multicultural Organizations on the “Indigenize Project,” the future of The Vault’s fashion and creative sectors look exceedingly bright.