A World of Fashion at the International Bazaar
By Mara Kievit, ‘13
Multiple countries from all over the world were represented in the fashion show that took place at the Lehigh’s 25th annual International Bazaar, held on Sunday, April 15.
Lehigh students, faculty and their families participated in the fashion show, and spent the duration of the bazaar dressed in their cultural outfits. Countries that were represented in the fashion show included China, Cuba, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Guyana, India, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Napaul, Nigeria, and Thailand.
Before and after the fashion show, participants who were dressed in their cultural outfits tended to the different tables designated to their country of origin. The tables displayed different aspects of the countries culture, such as foods, accessories and visual displays. The models of the traditional clothing for the various countries contributed to the cultural values that were being shared at the bazaar.
Opeyemi Akinbamidele ,’12, was modeling a Nigerian outfit from her tribe, Yoruba. Akinbamidele’s head was wrapped in a gele, a traditional Nigerian head wrap, which matched the colorful pattern of her dress. Akinbamidele’s waist was wrapped with an ibo, which also had a matching pattern to her green patterned dress. Akinbamidele said the coloring and pattern of her dress was typical of a traditional style Nigerian outfit, which are always very colorful and vibrant.
Mayra Juarez, ’15, modeled a Jalisco Folkloric dress, originating from the Mexican state of Jalisco. Juarez said the dress is worn during dance performances, which are typically done at ceremonies such as graduation. Juarez said her mother hand made her dress, which was a light pink color with several stripes above the hemline. Juarez was preparing to perform a traditional Jalisco dance that are commonly taught to elementary and middle school students in Mexico, and she was wearing black dancing shoes with nails in the bottom to emphasize the sound of the stomping that is done in the dance.
Daria Okhrimtchouk, ’13, was wearing a Vyshyvanka, a traditional embroidered Ukrainian blouse. The top was embroidered with glass beads, which covered around the neckline, the chest area and sleeves. Okhrimtchouk moved to the United States from the Ukraine when she was 13, and purchased the Vyshyvanka on a visit back to her homeland.
At the conclusion of the fashion show, all participants returned to the stage to show off their outfits for a final time, while dancing to Michael Jackson’s “We Are the World.”
Each country was designated time in which the models had an opportunity to show off the outfits that are traditional to their countries’ cultures. The models often performed a classic dance move or gesture from their countries’ cultures as well.
