Volume that can be heard in colours and odours found in fabric textures: this year’s ECFS Fashion Show was bound to have the audience questioning their senses. Slowly approaching the gothic ‘Ps and Gs Church’ in New Town at dusk, fighting the strong winds lapping at our face and the tapping of heels echoing in our ears, we were then greeted into the warmth to hear Chairwoman Ana Aritio describe her vision — to make our senses and emotions seem tangible. ECFS has been working tirelessly to compile all of their incredible work over the recent months for this final showcase to present their ingenious amalgamation of the senses.
Fundraising director Carolina Noviello went on to explain the event’s charity — Capability Scotland, who deliver care, support and education for disabled people across Scotland. They have been paving the way to promote inclusion, independence and equal opportunities for disabled individuals. Therefore ECFS has changed things up this year, and for the first time has included disability representation on the runway. The charity prioritises mutual joy and companionship with the children and describes that “meaningful actions need not be elaborate.” Although that statement may not have stood for the intricacies, hard work and complex expression of the senses that evening, as the charity’s representative said “where some senses may be limited, others can bridge the gap,” tonight’s theme was particularly pertinent to the work behind Capability Scotland with exquisite execution.
This society has been described as “inclusive,” “a family” and a perfect opportunity for someone wanting to start modelling. Ross described this event, his debut runway, as “so much fun, I was very nervous but once I had done my first walk, I just kept wanting to go back out there.”
As the first half of the evening went underway, the models for ‘sight’ slowly edged across the stage, somewhat playing eye tag with the front row, the remainder of the audience remained transfixed, ogling at the striking pieces. The audience was then induced to breathe in time with the models for ‘smell’, imagining the contrasting smells of leather musks or florals in each design. ‘Touch’ played joyously with the textures and materials used, as each model brushed past the next, us as the audience couldn’t help but graze fingertips over the wool of our tuxedo sleeves. We were fully and sensually immersed into each unique installation.
The second half went on and Ela, a model for ‘taste’, described this section of the night as ‘flirty, fun and feminine, but it is also about indulgence, desires and gluttony’. Personally, I entered the night thinking the concept of ‘taste’ would be impossible to communicate in fashion, but I was sorely mistaken. Audience member, Lily-Rose, with grapheme chrome synesthesia, described the music over the ‘sound’ installation to be feel murky black and grey with light flecks of pink and colour popping out, almost perfectly mirrored by the loud colours and striking designs cutting through the darkness of the church. The audience was again fascinated by the level of intention and execution from incredible designers: Zahra, Ruadhan, Kyra, Charise and Xiaoyi.
ECFS blended all of the senses together in a far more interpretive final runway, calling for the audience to imagine beyond the previous five concepts in an installation called ‘imagine’. The night rounded out to be an incredibly beautiful collage of the senses with no dwindle from the fresh ever-changing choreography and deep interpretations of the senses expressed in the fashion. The entire audience was constantly captivated by the artistry. This was a sensational evening for a beautiful cause and I cannot wait to see what they have in the works for next year.
Image provided by ECFS for The Student.