FashionX to an outsider can seem wildly intimidating and scary: you’re walking into a room full of people dressed to the 9’s, with creativity and design capabilities to create anything you could possibly imagine. As a previous outsider to FashionX, I once shared these same sentiments, and with our kick-off club meeting last week I was only reminded of how scary sitting in the D. School once was.
But when asking Olivia Wang (current President of FashionX) what FashionX means to her, I was reminded of all the reasons to stay–and why you should too. In her own words, “FashionX is a community unlike any other space on Stanford’s campus: it is fueled by pure student passion and self-drive.”
A few weeks ago Stanford hosted their annual Club and Career Fair on White Plaza. Although in theory this is a great opportunity to network and expand your professional horizons, personally it is my physical manifestation of hell. First the club fair features countless pre-professional clubs that require rounds of applications and requirements, then the career fair with thousands of QR codes to scan to take you directly to their application page where you and the rest of Stanford’s student body will apply to the same summer internship to never return to again. FashionX stands out from these because it is a space where anyone is welcome, any background is welcome, and where you can also belong.
Going back to the first meeting, I remember being the same scared freshman and sophomore walking into Studio 1 for the first time thinking, “well what if I’m not dressed cool enough,” “what if I’m not as creative as the rest of them,” and even “what can I contribute that they don’t already have.”
And so I asked Olivia, “what would you say to the nervous outsider to FashionX and the fashion world?” Put perfectly, she said “Fashion, at its core, is far more than just the clothes we drape over our bodies. It is a reflection of who we are, how we perceive ourselves, and how we wish to be perceived by the world. Every garment, accessory, or style choice is a statement, a piece of a puzzle that paints a picture of our individuality. Whether one finds comfort in the casual ease of sweatpants or the structured elegance of a button-up, it's not just about the clothes themselves, but the sentiment and confidence they imbue within us. True fashion is not about adhering to trends, but finding and embracing what makes you feel authentically 'you'. When you wear something that resonates with your inner self, it boosts your confidence, allowing you to navigate the world with a sense of purpose and self-assuredness. In this way, fashion becomes less about vanity and more about personal empowerment and self-expression.”
“Fashion” and being called “fashionable” can be interpreted in so many ways that I like to think of it as this figment of my imagination–a social construct of sorts some may say. The boundaries to fashion know no limit, and Olivia always mentions how this room for opportunity as a fashion-club is what pushes its members to continue their work. Stanford’s culture emphasizes this need for entrepreneurship and efficiency, but oftentimes this energy is put towards those pre-professional clubs highlighted at club fair. What makes FashionX stand out is that there is no application and there is no requirement. Rather it is a space for people who are passionate enough about fashion and its many sectors (design, business, data, technology), to create things that impact and empower themselves and (as a plus) the community around them. Take–for example–flea market supporting student creators, runway featuring student designers, panels highlighting CEOs from top brands like MadHappy and Revolve, the list could go on.
In short, if FashionX intimidates you, don’t worry–it also intimidated me (and sometimes still does). If there’s anything to take away from this, take it from Olivia: “FashionX is a unique, social aggregation of a bunch of interesting people who share the same values and appreciation for fashion, design, and all the things that come with it.” So don’t feel bad to be scared or nervous, just know that you’re entering a room full of people waiting for your presence and wonderful ideas.
With love,
Chloe
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