Incandescence, the theme for this year’s fashion show from Miami University Fashion & Design (MUF&D), will radiate to inform the student organization’s collaborative collection and set the tone for a night of warmth, reflection, and student-run excellence. The event takes place on Saturday, April 27, at 5 p.m. in Millett Hall.

"We're doing everything we can to make it the best it can be," Psychology student and MUF&D vice president Ally Berkowitz said. "I think that the moment the show starts, it is going to rock the world. I can feel it already."

Every year, MUF&D spends its fall and spring semesters diligently planning its annual fashion show, which boasts 100 student-designed looks this year. Their members and executive board aren't just fashion students but span a wide range of majors and concentrations at Miami University, proving that everyone can participate. 

At MUF&D, Berkowitz rose from an assistant to the PR/marketing director to vice president. Her diversification of studies provided by her Psychology major and its graduation requirements has helped fuel both her MUF&D experiences and plans for a professional career. 

"Psychology contributes to the way that I work with others and understand why people operate the way that they do," Berkowitz said. “You're focused on the people around you and collaborating with them. I see myself as a very compassionate leader and someone who wants to hear from different people."

Modeling co-director Nick Bertrand, also a Psychology major along with Kinesiology, echoed these thoughts.

"I'm working with a lot of ICONS (MUF&D's runway models), and there is a line you have to tread with instilling confidence in them and helping them see the potential and understand what you're trying to get to," Bertrand said. "With that, psychology comes into play with choosing your words, how you're communicating things, and how to assess and see where people are."

Both Berkowitz and Bertrand noted that CAS academic requirements have given them unique opportunities. For Bertrand, it’s opening doors of conversation in job interviews and working with different populations as a leader. For Berkowitz, it’s creating professional relationships between student and corporate organizations.

"Last summer, I had the pleasure of making sales calls to Louis Vuitton (LV) on behalf of [handmade wallcovering manufacturer] Maya Romanoff," Berkowitz said. “Making those sales calls in a foreign language allowed me to establish a relationship for MUF&D with LV. I was able to leverage my own personal connections and my education and combine them with MUF&D to really make a great networking web."

MUF&D has proven to be a hotspot for student networkers to utilize the skills provided by a robust Miami education. So it seems fitting that when coming up with the theme of Incandescence, Berkowitz joined with student president Halle Maskery to encapsulate it into one word, synonymous with luminosity and passion. 

"As we get closer to the show and have run-throughs with full garments, it becomes our time to shine," Bertrand said. "I'm excited to not only personally see it, but I'm very excited for everyone else to see it as well."

The dedication from everyone involved is coming to fruition with a beautiful product that they can't wait to share with an audience. These young professionals are crafting a new wave of leaders to enter not only the fashion industry but also a diversified array of professions. 

"We had our run-through the other day with all our models, and the second the song turned on, I had chills; my eyes were tearing," Berkowitz said. "I know this is what it's supposed to be."