Cal Poly’s MultiCultural Center and Student Life and Leadership will present Cal Poly’s first official Latino Fashion Show in celebration of Latino Heritage Month.
“We want to showcase our culture and show that even though there’s not much diversity here at Cal Poly we’re still really proud of it” Montenegro said.
The fashion show is designed to display the major differences within the various Latino countries across the globe. Biological sciences junior Devon Buddan is one of the students who helped organize the event.
“I think a lot of people when they hear ‘Latino,’ have a one-sided view,” Buddan said. “But even though the clothes, values and cultures may be similar, there are distinct differences within them.”
The event will highlight the fashion of Latino countries who celebrate their independence during September and October. This includes Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Honduras. In addition to modeling the traditional attire of each country, the show will explain how the people of these different countries celebrate their independence.
“Celebrating your independence is huge,” Buddan said. “We get to show Cal Poly what’s going on in other parts of the world. Different people’s families around this time may celebrate it at home. I think this fashion show is one way to give people outside of the home an opportunity to see it, or at least get a glimpse of it.”
Buddan is the first person in her family born in America, yet she remains close to her Belizean heritage.
“My culture and my ethnicity are important to me,” she said. “Your nationality and ethnicity are two different things. Even though I’m the U.S. citizen of my family, I want to still be connected.”
The Latino Fashion Show is one way to be connected, Buddan said.
Buddan, along with nutrition sophomore Isabel Montenegro, have been planning the vent since June. They found the clothes through a combination of family members, volunteers providing their own traditional outfits and going to different thrift stores in Los Angeles. To find volunteers, the two asked Latino Greeks and Latino Clubs on campus.
Business administration senior Lily Castro is one of the models in the fashion show. She heard about the opportunity to participate when Montenegro asked her sorority for volunteers. She said she wanted to participate more because she wanted to be part of something that brings
“Cal Poly is not a very diverse community but the cultural community and clubs come together and we help each other in any way we can,” Castro said. “Because of their support, it has made me a stronger person and who I am today.”
Castro is half Salvadorian and half Mexican, and her mother introduced her to the history and different cultures in her heritage. In elementary through middle school, Castro danced in Ballet Folklórico — a dance ensemble that reflects the traditional culture of Mexico — Castro said.
Ballet Folklórico de Cal Poly will perform two dances from different regions in Mexico at the show. Danza Aztecas performance group will also perform.
General engineering junior Sean Johnson is another model in the Latino Fashion Show.
“Soy Latina,” Johnson said. “I am American but I love my culture; I love when I am around my family, that they’re all Mexican and that they’re just doing their thing. I love being Mexican. This is a way for me to really throw it out there — that I’m Mexican and I’m proud.”
Environmental horticulture sophomore Felicia Rios sees the fashion show as being a unique way to bring more culture awareness to Cal Poly.
“It’s definitely different. I like that it’s bringing more culture into school,” Rios said. “I think it will be an eye-opening experience for those who don’t know much about the different Latino cultures.”
Horticulture senior Lauren Caldas will be attending the fashion show because she thinks i’s a great way to celebrate culture.
“You always hear the negative that there aren’t more people of color on this campus, I think it’s cool that this fashion show is a way to instead celebrate culture,” Caldas said.
“We’re hosting this event in honor of our culture.” Montenegro said.
Caldas has been influenced by her father’s Colombian heritage. The family traditions and customs are rich which makes her proud of her roots, Caldas said.
The fashion show will take place at the University Union (UU) in room 220 at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27. There will be food, music, dancing and fashion.