Duemoda International Magazine holds the first annual fashion show

In the Tappan Room of the Michigan Union, about 20 people waited Saturday evening for the first fashion show of DUEMODA, the University of Michigan’s only magazine focused on international fashion. The theme of Saturday’s show was fashion as social commentary through self-expression, and the show was divided into four different scenes that each had unique clothing styles and music. The first scene featured all-black outfits, the second featured the colorful work of Detroit designer Lindsay Jenkins, the third featured models all wearing the color red, and the final scene connected fashion to social and political movements.

LSA senior Brandon De Martinez is the president of DUEMODA. He founded the organization this year to better integrate international fashion perspectives on campus. De Martinez told The Michigan Daily that his intention was to create a space where people could express themselves freely.

“I want people to feel like they can be radically themselves, whether that’s through culture, gender, sexuality or just nationality,” De Martinez said.

The final scene of the show focused on political commentary. One model in the scene wore a keffiyeh, a traditional Arab headdress that has also been used by activists to symbolize Palestinian liberation, and shouted “Free Palestine” as they walked. Another part of the scene involved a model spray-painting “F ur norms” on another model’s white dress with red spray paint.

LSA senior Allegra Jones, a DUEMODA model, wore fake flowers to cover her chest, a fake snake around her neck and took a bite out of an apple as she walked. She told The Daily that the piece was inspired by religious images from the biblical Garden of Eden, and used those images to comment on her experiences as a transgender woman.

“I kind of took on an aspect of Eve sinning and being transformed,” Jones said. “I wanted to rewrite the narrative that transformation and snakes were something negative. Some people might argue that Adam and Eve eating the apple, sinning, and gaining knowledge actually helped them evolve, and in a similar way as a black trans woman, I felt like I had evolved through my transition .

LSA freshman Lavanya Goyal, who also modeled in the show, said DUEMODA’s collaborative and supportive environment makes modeling more fun.

“It’s good, it’s a bit nerve-wracking, but it’s exciting,” Goyal said. “It’s fun. Everyone, like all the models, is so helpful.”

Daily staff member Sophia Jayasekera can be reached at [email protected].

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