Ebony Models showcased “The Evolution of Black Love” in a throwback fashion show with looks from the 60s, 70s, 80 and beyond.
The Feb. 13 show showcased seven different segments, including the 60s-2000s, the Story of O.J., and a Valentine’s Day theme.
Local businesses Back2Vida and Stewxvintage sponsored a few of the looks.
Between each segment, a model would inform the crowd about the decade and the famous African American designers during that period. Attendees not only got to see the fashion but also learn about Black history.
Freshman student Lyric Williams described the show as entertaining, vibrant and exciting.
The first segment featured the 60s, where the models paid tribute to the Black Panther movement and wore black leather and afros.
To transition to the 70s, the DJ played Michael Jackson’s music. The models took to the stage wearing plaid and bell-bottom pants. Other looks included pastel colors, platform heels and a vibrant pink afro.
Next was the 80s, when more of Jackson’s music was played. The first few models paid tribute to Jackson, mimicking a couple of his iconic looks. Other models wore saturated colors, cardigans and flashy skirts.
The 90s segment followed and was the crowd favorite, as the audience cheered and sang along to iconic 90s songs. The models strutted the runway wearing denim overalls, bucket hats and oversized jerseys.
In between the 90s and 2000s segments, freshman student Kuhreem Shabazz sang “At Last” by Etta James.
Following his performance was the 2000s segment. The DJ played popular 2000s hits, as the models made their way down the runway. The 2000s models wore low-rise jeans, crop tops, bamboo earrings and velour tracksuits.
Between segments, local artist and Hendrix student Adaja Cooper showcased 3 paintings from her senior capstone project. The paintings included a self-portrait and two others that reflected common African American experiences.
The next segment was “The Story of O.J.” This segment was reminiscent of Jay-Z’s song titled “The Story of O.J.” The song is about colorism and O.J. Simpson’s infamous quote, “I’m not black, I’m O.J.”
The models wore looks inspired by the song’s music video. Before the last segment of the night, “Valentine’s Day,” R&B artist Qiuntelli performed. Qiuntelli, most commonly known for his appearance on Fox’s TV show “The Four: Battle for Stardom” is from Conway, Arkansas. He performed a cover of Bryson Tiller’s “Don’t” and his original song, “Rent Free.”
“It’s always good to come home and perform for the home crowd,” Qiuntelli said. “Especially since I left, there’s been so much growth in my artistry. It felt good to show that I can rock a crowd and that I am a true artist.”
After his performance was the Valentine’s Day segment with different outfits all in red and pink hues.
For details on upcoming events, follow UCA’s Ebony Models on Instagram at @ucaebonymodels.
