Poetry series:'between the lines'
FUZE 2020: metamorphosis
By Jemima Stafford
This weekend the largest student run fashion show in the country hits the Loco Klub. A combined effort by students from the University of Bristol and West England, expect an explosion of fashion, dance and music on one stage. There will also be a marketplace, where a unique range of vendors will offer shopping opportunities galore, as well as food and drinks. The theme of this years' show alone captures the imagination with an abundance of possibility; metamorphosis as a concept in fashion has seen some of the most intricate displays of misshapen and ethereal designs produced by groundbreaking designers. Images that spring to mind are of the entrapment of models in delicate, netted structures by Fashion East and the transformation of dresses into birds by McQueen… no pressure, then.
This isn't just a chance to see some ambitious and innovative collaborations by students, local businesses, high-street brands and high fashion labels, but a unique opportunity to raise money for Second Step. Second Step was set up to support people with mental health problems in their homes. Their vision is to provide help for people once they leave hospital, as often initiatives have failed in this all-important move towards independent living. Not only this, but they work to support and raise awareness of the importance of mental health within Bristol, with staff offering peer support and fostering recovery through helping people find the hope and courage to make those positive changes in their life.
FUZE have raised over £120,000 over the past 14 years for a variety of causes around Bristol. Their popularity has snowballed since their 2003 debut, with a record of being incredibly professional yet reassuringly rowdily student orientated. The director, Julia Zervos, has spoken of the language of art and its ability to open up chains of communication between different topics that can be normally tricky to discuss. The importance of utilising the artistic world for the transmission of these ideas has never been more significant, especially in the student sphere. So, there are three performances this weekend and an after-party. Tickets for Friday night (on final release) and Saturday's Matinee are still available to buy. Get yourself down to the Loco Klub for an event that promises to be a fuze-ion of aesthetic delights.
