–By Ladiyah Beachum–

New Jersey City University’s creative group, “Fashion Organization,” (Fashion Org.), is sponsoring a fundraising fashion show called “Vintage Vanity,” on April 30, 2014, in GSUB Multipurpose Room (A, B, and C). Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the show will start from 7 -10: 30 p.m., with tickets priced at $5.00.

Fashion Org.’s main members are President Mesha Laquerre, Vice President Harold Daniels III, Treasurer Ziyadah Williams, and Secretary Laquan Law. Together, they have structured the show to be a charitable event to help raise money for AIDS victims, while also accompanying fashion lovers.

Mesha Laguerre, 21, President of the Fashion Org., and International Business Major said, “The Fashion Org. started four years ago here at NJCU, and two years ago, it was deactivated for whatever purposes. I just basically brought it back.”

One of the main purposes of Fashion Org. is to teach people about fashion itself and how to dress in style; this organization believes in the comeback of fashion.

Treasurer of the Fashion Org., Ziyadah “Zee” Williams, 18, of Jersey City said, “The purpose of the fashion show is to bring the old fashion, old trends and styles back. It’s also a chance for NJCU students that are designers trying to get out.”

The show isn’t just for models to show off their catwalks; it is also for designers to show off some of their trendy creative designs.

“It’s another way for them to showcase their designs,” said Williams. “Some of our proceeds are also going to the AIDS foundation, so we are giving back because April is AIDS awareness month.”

While teaching, they are also making sure things are handled professionally and orderly, meeting the needs of everyone.

“My role is to keep everything organized as far as paperwork and making sure that we are more of an ‘organization’ than a club. We try to keep everything in a strict itinerary, while also teaching people about fashion,” said Laquan Law, 22, Psychology major and Secretary of Fashion Org.

NJCU’s Fashion Org. welcomes everyone who would like to be a part of the expanding group. They are open to all backgrounds and professions.

Law said, “You don’t have to be a ‘fashion expert’ to be a part of Fashion Org. You don’t have to know anything about fashion. But, if you’re interested, we welcome you to teach, [and] to learn from other people who may know more than us just to branch out and bring fashion back.”

As the date gets closer, students are excited for the upcoming fashion show. NJCU students who auditioned are eager to show off their styles and be a part of this memorable experience.

“Modeling is one of my favorite passions. I model all the time. I auditioned for America’s Top Model and I ended up being one of the finalists. I’ve done NJCU’s fashion shows every year that they’ve had them,” said theatre student David Booker, 20, of Jersey City.

Fashion Org. members are also thrilled with its success and its impact on learning about their own individuality.

“Vintage Vanity” has grown in respect from NJCU students as well as students from other universities such as Saint Peters, Farleigh Dickerson, Rutgers, and Kean. Students believe that this fashion show will be a huge success for the NJCU campus community.

Kean University Student and Newark resident, Tah-Bree Parks, 22 said, “I see potential, I do a lot of shows outside of my school because my school, [Kean] is not really big on fashion shows, and I went to Rutgers before that, they’re not really as big on fashion shows as they are on parties. I did over a hundred fashion shows, [and] photo shoots, and it gets different because I go up and down on weight, but it all is the same. Once you know how to walk, you know how to walk.”

NJCU’s Fashion Org. is pushing to prove their ability in bringing fashion back to the campus community. They are here to teach the inexperienced and make them experienced while growing in the light of fashion.

“If you want to do a success show, you should always know how everyone around you walks. For the simple fact that one person that can’t walk will ruin the whole show. So I always try to make sure that everyone around is at some type of level,” said Parks.

Giving back to those that are HIV positive touches the hearts of students. The show is looked upon as a bigger contribution to many, now that they are aware of its cause, which is to give back to the AIDS Foundation.

Khalid Onaola, 18, International Business/Economics Major and Saint Peter’s University student said, “It’s definitely bigger than what I first thought it would be. I thought I was just going to be looking fly walking down a runway. But, if it’s something bigger than I think, that’s pretty cool, because you cannot only express yourself through clothes. I think that you can express yourself differently than the normal traditional way.”

“Vintage Vanity” presents a life changing experience for college students and how to improve them while also helping to improve the lives of the less fortunate.

“I think that it’s good that college students that are pursuing an education, while taking the time to put together a fashion show to help raise money for those in need. I think that that’s really good, because it shows that there are still people out here that actually care about the community,” said Booker.