The fashion from Rags II Rhythm was out of this world. As the audience entered the USU Ballroom or “Hollywood,” as it was intended to be, on May 8, they witnessed beautiful people wearing trendy “rags” as they walked down the red carpet to some of the year’s most popular songs.
Rags II Rhythm is an annual show that has been around for eight years and presented by the University Student Union Program Council. Executive producer and sophomore pubic relations major Tristan Wynn said it all began with several creative program council volunteers. Wynn also serves as the program assistant for the Program Council.
“They wanted to mix hip-hop with urban couture clothing lines to cater to underground lines that aren’t really known, like student designers, and expose them to a college campus,” the producer said.
“It’s getting bigger and better every year,” Wynn said. “We mix more popular nationwide lines and mix them with lesser-known lines, to draw in [people from] a college campus. People may come to see House of Dereon, South Pole or bigger lines, but they may come back and see the show and say, ‘Oh wow, there’s this underground line that isn’t known.'”
Rags II Rhythm was split into three sections: the fashion show, an intermission with vendors and a concert by Bay Area hip-hop and soul artist J. Myers. In addition to the three sections, Wynn was able to incorporate a spoken-word performance by Zachary Sullivan and slam poet Simply Kat.
The night began with hosts Wynn and Corion Lucas walking the red carpet and introducing celebrity look-a-likes. The Chris Brown, Kelis, Owen Wilson and Naomi Campbell impersonators stirred up the crowd.
There were 25 designers featured that night. Names like South Pole and House of Dereon intertwined with lesser-known designers like Deeply Rooted and Jenny P’s by Jen Prudhome.
Although it wasn’t Prudhome’s first time involved in the show, she felt as though this time was different.
“[In] the past shows, I was just stepping into the fashion world and considering myself a designer,” Prudhome said. “Since then I’ve really progressed from having T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies to including all aspects of dress: casual wear, a little more dressy things, or maybe something that you would just want to wear for the night life, but still maintaining the message and look. It was obvious that I had a lot of casual, and dressy things. But, I didn’t want to lose that attitude. Even though it was dressy I didn’t want to lose the flavor of what I’m about.”
There were a wide variety of designers there that night, each with their own inspirations.
Laurie Williams, one of the founders of Deeply Rooted, explained that her line was produced for young people in church after their attire “hadn’t please the elders.”
“Our motto is ‘His word, your style’. We’re really trying to focus on promoting God’s word and a fashion that’s acceptable to all,” Williams said. “We’ve been very well received by the general public as well as the Christian industries, but our main goal is getting to mainstream stores.”
Rags II Rhythm delivered the hip-hop culture and fashion all in one package. The skits, poetry and performance by J. Meyers made the night one to remember.
