Social change—but make it fashion.
That’s the goal of this year’s Runway show, scheduled for April 22 at 8 p.m. at the Buffalo State Sports Arena and presented by SUNY Buffalo State University’s Fashion and Textile Technology Department and Buffalo Art Movement.
A professional-level, student-run fashion experience, Runway showcases the work of student designers as well as program alumni and faculty in one high-energy show. The public is invited to attend and dress to impress as they mingle with fellow fashion enthusiasts, designers and industry professionals.
There is also a VIP experience available, presented by Twin Petrels Seltzer Co. and hosted by The Franklin Crocker Show. It includes access to a private party, complimentary beer, wine, and hors d'oeuvres, reserved VIP seating and an exclusive goodie bag.
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“As this is our Earth Day show, we encouraged our students to think outside the box by using things that have already been made and turning them into something unique, creative and innovative," says Fashion Department lecturer and Runway Director Erin Habes. “What they’ve come up with is really a shining example of the fashion industry's future.”
Habes says the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter Movement in 2020 served as a wakeup call for the department, and a reevaluation of how it used the annual Runway show as a platform.
“Ever since then, we’ve really used Runway as a source of advocacy for our Black and Brown students,” Habes says. “We use our fashion show to uplift voices within our community and within the fashion industry.”
In 2021, the show was called “History Retailored” and focused on elevating under-celebrated Black fashion designers of the past and using them to inspire their collections. “Push for Progress” followed in 2022, with an aim to not let the conversation and the desire for change fizzle out.
This year’s show continues this commitment and looks to the future with a theme of “Provoking Protopias.” Instead of aiming for the unattainable perfection of a utopian society, “Provoking Protopias” strives to promote a more sustainable and equitable future for the fashion industry, which is one of the world’s most polluting.
"We really do have to have these difficult conversations, and push for positive change,” Habes says. “Instead of just looking at the problems, we want to focus on steps we can take for a better, more realistic future.”
Runway’s theme goes far beyond the fashion. It’s embedded in all levels of the event, from its mission and messaging to its sponsors and collaborators, which include Go Buffalo Niagara and Buffalo State’s Africana Studies Department.
The department continues to fundraise for its Black Fashion Scholarship, which it launched in 2020 to support “promising students of Black, African American, or African descent who are committed to creating a more equitable society.”
Attendees will also have the opportunity to shop for a cause on April 22 at a pop-up thrift shop. Runway is continuing its partnership with Thrift 2 Fight, an organization that funds social justice causes through thrifting. All proceeds from the thrift sales will be donated locally to Feed Buffalo, the Confident Girl Mentoring Program, and the Grassroots Gardens of WNY. Donations of new or gently used clothing for the pop-up are welcome.
“Runway doesn't just serve the campus—it serves the community, and working with all these organizations has really helped deepen our connection to our community,” Habes says. “This theme of sustainability and equity really inspired our students, and we’re taking it to the next level.”
Follow @bscrunway on Instagram, and visit bscrunway.com to buy tickets and for more information on the show.
