Fashion Talks : The Runway

With the slightest twitch of my finger, the model begins to bring not only the clothes, but the show to life. As I saw them walk down the stairs and disappear on the runway, I fell in love with the fashion industry all over again. 

I recently finished my second internship with Fashion Talks/FT Foundation by working the annual runway show held each year by our founder, Aimon Ali, a fashion powerhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. The 5th anniversary of The Runway was held at the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland, which included a fashion exhibition curated by Aimon, a visual display of the Fashion Talks Magazine throughout the last 5 years, a VIP lounge, and quite a few photo ops, of course. 

I not only had the opportunity to hold an internship once again with Fashion Talks this year, but I also had the privilege to help with the runway show as I did last year. While I was running around the venue Saturday and Sunday, dripping in sweat and adrenaline coursing through my veins, I was reminded just how much I love anything and everything about not only the fashion industry, but also a runway show. 

Later that day at 7 p.m., it was finally time for all our hard work to be put into action. I could be found on the second floor, nowhere near a view of the show, but I had something better. When I was on another floor with a few other interns managing all of the models, I realized: the greatest privilege of working a runway show is not seeing the show at all.

Seeing the show would have been amazing, I will admit, but working behind the scenes with timing and grouping was everything I wanted. Personally, there is a true thrill behind the stage of a runway show, and while I will watch a show any day of the week to admire and adore different designs, there is just nothing like working backstage. 

As I sat in my car with a few other interns, we reflected on the day, and I realized that I did not have a single photo of myself. I had a few BTS videos from the day, but nowhere in my camera roll would you find a picture of me in my gorgeous outfit from the show. There was not a single moment in the day when I could have taken a few pictures to post on Instagram, but after 30 seconds of being sad, it did not matter anymore. Yes, I would have loved some pictures because I was obsessed with my dress, but the hard work I put in and the appreciation I received from Aimon once everything calmed down is all I could have ever asked for from that day. 

Fashion Talks and Aimon have given me experiences I could only have dreamed of a few years ago, and for that, I will forever be grateful.

@the_fashiontalks Instagram (recaps and more!)

Fashion Talks Foundation Website

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