November 3, 2017 Archtoberfest Closes Out Strong with THRIFT Fashion Show

As a glamorous finish to Archtoberfest, student organization Alpha Rho Chi presented THRIFT Design Fashion Show on October 28. The atrium was aglow, and the models’ runway was alight as more than 50 students participated in the show.

Students mostly from the School of Art and College of Architecture and Design served as designers, models and hair and makeup artists to complete 23 unique looks for the show. Members of Alpha Rho Chi staffed the show to ensure a smooth event, and at least 60 students, staff and faculty made up the audience.

For several weeks leading up to the show, Alpha Rho Chi had collected used clothing both to donate and to repurpose, restyle and remake as the clothing modeled in the show.

In all, about 10 large bags full of clothing were donated by students in the college. This clothing, as well as the fashions used in the show, were given to Bare Thred, a secondhand shop dedicated to “turning people’s excess into outlets for creativity and style by re-designing clothing,” according to its website. Allie Ward, a second-year Architecture student, helps manage Bare Thred’s Knoxville pop-up shop. Ward will be collaborating with Bare Thred to create tags describing the THRIFT event to go on the new designs.

Archtoberfest was a month-long series of events presented by many of the college’s student organizations working together. Events included an open house in Ewing Gallery, Lunch & Learn with professionals, pumpkin painting, the THRIFT fashion show and more.