Thurs. April 3 is the first day of Wilmington Fashion Weekend (WFW). The event will go on for four consecutive days, highlighting emerging designers, accessory ateliers and local talent and boutiques. Select special access events include an opening night Cirque Du Soleil Social, a Block Party at Lumina Station and several other community-based events, with fashion at the heart of each. 

“Every style has a voice, and during Wilmington Fashion Weekend, it will be heard,” said Khaliah Olokunola, co-founder of Wilmington Fashion Weekend. 

Countless organizations will be there to sponsor the event, including the UNC Wilmington student-led organization The Style & Modeling Company (STYMO).  STYMO will be volunteering with WFW in order to help raise funds for the DREAMS Center for the Arts, a nonprofit organization that provides free arts education to financially unstable adolescents. 

“The Style and Modeling Company is so excited to have the opportunity to help sponsor the very first WFW,” said Kaja Williamson, vice president of STYMO.

In order to further help WFW in the quest to raise as many funds as possible for the DREAMS foundation, STYMO will be putting on its first fashion week to correspond with the WFW events. 

“STYMO fashion week is our first big event as an organization and we are fortunate enough to be able to incorporate the amazing efforts of WFW into our event,” Williamson said. 

“WFW and STYMO are all about showcasing great talent in this wonderful city by getting the community involved and inspiring people to step out of their comfort zone and do something courageous,”Williamson said. “STYMO and WFW have decided to make those dreams come to us and the community, and it truly shows that anything is possible when you have a passionate group of people working together for a great cause.”

A flash mob fashion show kicked off the STYMO fashion week on Monday, Mar. 31 in the amphitheater on campus.   

Williamson said the purpose of this show was to get the word out about the STYMO organization, and what exactly it is that they do. 

“Our members will be rocking the runway and encouraging students to join in,” Williamson said prior to the event. “STYMO wants every student to have the opportunity to walk the runway because we believe it boost one’s confidence.”

Williamson hopes to encourage shy students who may be interested in modeling but are too discouraged to try out for casting calls to try it out. She said she wants UNCW students to see that the organization is all-inclusive and accepting of anyone who has a passion for modeling. 

Another event that STYMO will be hosting as a part of fashion week is the STYMO Social at Islands Fresh Mex Grill on Racine Drive on Wednesday, Apr. 2 from 7pm-9pm. There, they will be hosting a best dressed contest. During each of STYMO’s weekly meetings, they have something called the “Triple Take Thursday” (TTT). On TTT, STYMO members dress in their best outfits, but in the case of this event, the best dressed attendee will receive an all-access pass to WFW, which is valued at $50. The winner will also receive a gift card. 

All participants in the best dressed contest will be photographed, and then their picture will be posted on the STYMO Instagram account. The winner is chosen by how many “likes” their picture receives. 

STYMO will be explaining all of the facets of their organization at the WFW, which offers resources for all interests related to fashion such as styling, fashion marketing and photography.

“Wilmington Fashion Weekend is about bringing the local creative community together, and UNCW is an integral part of that community,” said JJ Knight, marketing coordinator of WFW.  “Our heart behind WFW is to give emerging talents a platform to share their art.”

“STYMO is so excited to be hosting this fashion show and it will be bigger and better next year,” said Williamson. 

To view a complete schedule, buy tickets and get more details about WFW, visit wilmingtonfashionweekend.com.