Tomorrow night at 9 p.m. in Cohen Auditorium, models decked out in fashions by Marc Jacobs, BCBG, ALO, Soodee and Cotelac, among other brands, will strut down the catwalk and showcase the latest trends of all styles.
In its fourth annual Lux Fashion show, Tufts China Care Club will bring together Tufts models, dancers, DJs, stylists and other volunteers to transform the stage into a runway, entertaining the campus community and, hopefully, raising over $6,600 for Chinese orphans in need of surgery.
All proceeds of the show are donated to China Care Homes, which is run by the U.S.−based China Care Foundation and provides surgeries for disabled Chinese children living in orphanages in the hopes of increasing the likelihood of their adoption. Last year's show provided heart surgery for two children.
Jessica Zhang, Tufts China Care president and executive producer of the show, explained that the show's purpose is purely philanthropic.
"We donate the money to four orphanages in and around Beijing. The kids there are all born with physical disabilities. So we're trying to help those children who need medical surgeries to help them not only get a normal life but also a chance of getting adopted," Zhang, a senior, said. "There's almost no chance of them getting adopted without the surgeries because a lot of parents just can't afford to adopt a child with severe medical needs."
When the campus fashion show fundraising event began four years ago, it was called "Blush," not LUX. More recently, the show's board members decided the event — and its title — could use a makeover and came up with "Beacon of Light" for this year's theme.
"The first year we named it ‘Blush.' We were brainstorming and wanted to come up with a name that's more inspiring because the fashion show is life−changing for the children we're helping," Zhang said. "‘Lux' comes from the word ‘light,' which is what these surgeries really are for the orphans they're helping."
And to ignite the show, the Lux board members have been coordinating it since last semester. Sophomore Quentin Lott, a board member and public relations director of the show, explained that all of the clothing used in the show is donated by designers that the board approached in person, mostly through their stores in Boston.
In addition to the more famed designers, Lux is also showcasing several up−and−coming local designers, including Gregory Hugill, who was featured in Boston Fashion Week; Jacqueline Ortega, who specializes in jewelry; and Freshob, short for Fresh Off the Boat, which, brings styles from Asia to Boston.
Around the same time the board began looking for sponsors to contribute their clothes to the show, they also began recruiting Tufts students to model.
"At the end of the winter semester, we put out an application and asked people who are interested to come to an audition," the show's model coordinator and choreographer Amy Wipfler, a sophomore, said. "We made them show us their walk and asked them questions like how much they're willing to be the spokesperson for China Care."
Yet the 30 student volunteers strutting down the runway tomorrow are not your run−of−the−mill models, Wipfler said. She explained that while their ability to walk comfortably on the runway is important, so is their charisma and commitment to the cause.
"Not everyone's size−two, and not everyone's 5'11". There are quite a few personalities within our model group," Wipfler said.
The show will have a few experienced models, some of whom are even contracted, among the students, including Miss Teen India 2009, Wipfler said.
Senior Kenneth Burris, one of the models who will walk in tomorrow's show — and one who has modeled in several ads professionally — explained that this modeling gig differs from the average one in far more ways than just the variety of sizes on the runway. While paid modeling jobs leave the creative direction entirely up to the stylists and directors in charge, he said, the Lux board members allow and encourage China Care models to help out.
"We can sort of pick and choose which garments we want to wear," Burris said. "And you can sort of tweak it with your own clothing as well. If you have a pair of pants or a hair ribbon you want to use, you can talk to a board member, and usually, they'll say sure."
At two of the sponsoring boutiques in Harvard Square, including ALO, the Tufts China Care board asked the models to put together three looks they loved, and the board chose their favorite among them to include in the show, Zhang said.
In addition to acting as their own assistant stylists, the students modeling in the LUX show have also contributed to the club's fundraising. Each model has pledged to sell at least 10 tickets to the show. Many have also helped to organize the club's two fundraising parties this semester.
When it comes to charity events, Wipfler said, while certain people have job titles, everyone involved simply chips in wherever they can.
"I also work with sponsorship, but then again our PR person also picks clothing. So it's really all a group effort. When it's a charity, you can't delegate everything," she said.
Model JT Vancollie, a junior, said that over the past few weeks the hours of rehearsal have increased significantly, and the models have been meeting about three times a week. While most of the models have as little dance experience as they have modeling experience — which, for many, is none — Wipfler has choreographed three dances for the models to perform in between catwalk segments.
The show will also feature performances by several Tufts dance groups, including Turbo and Tufts Burlesque Troupe.
Right now, most of the volunteers involved are in constant flow from campus to Newbury Street to Harvard Square, finishing up the show's final looks.
While not all are set in stone, Vancollie gave the Daily a sneak preview of one of her favorite looks that will appear on the runway.
"We haven't figured out all the clothes yet, but my favorite so far is a tight white dress from ALO and a black leather jacket," she said. "It looks pretty fly."
Tickets for tomorrow's show are available at the Mayer Campus Center and are $10 with five raffle tickets or $8 without. Raffle tickets can also be bought individually for $1 each.
