“Summer Fest 2008,” EPCC’s first fundraising fashion show, featured top design labels, entertainment and food for several charitable organizations. 
Student models walked across a runway to help Candlelighters, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, La Fe and Maltese Knights, organizations that fight cancer, offer medical treatment for low-income patients and support causes for fire fighters.
The April 23 event, which was at Valle Verde’s Outdoor Stage, ran all day in three divisions. The design labels featured at the fashion show were Buckle, Hot Topic and Torrid. Each line of clothing was of differing styles.
“We push for a very vintage, very cool, edge look,” said Romina Palacros, manager for Buckle, which has its own store at the Cielo
Nick Rodriguez / Tejano Tribune
Vista Mall.
Assistant manager for Buckle, Colby Shamron, said that the posh designs of Buckle com
EPCC student models strut their stuff at the “Summer Fest 2008” Fashion Show at the Valle Verde Americana Village stage.
e in a large variety.
“We offer higher-end brands and a wide array of styles for our customers,” she said.
Moe Miranda, sales representative for Torrid, a plus-size label which also has a store at the Cielo Vista Mall, said that the clothing her company designs isn’t boring or limited to one apparel category.
Torrid offers an excellent alternative. The brand specializes in sizes 12 – 26.
“We try to keep a fun, youthful look for our clothing, but offer business casual attire as well,” said Miranda.
Oscar Leyva, Jr., assistant manager of Hot Topic, explained a common misconception about the national brand.
“Hot Topic is generally known as a gothic store, but the truth is that we promote several styles along with our own particular brand,” Leyva said.
“From hard rock, to emo, alternative and hip hop, Hot Topic has a diverse selection.”
There was more to “Summer Fest 2008” than just fashion. The Society for Post Cognitive Studies (SPCS), which coordinated the event, provided entertainment including DJs from 104.3 Hit FM and Bella Fusion, one of El Paso’s belly dancing groups, along with other dancers and singers.
Proceeds from the sale of beverages and food went toward the charities.
Claudia Chacon was the key organizer and faculty adviser for SPCS.
“I want to give special thanks to social studies dean Susana Rodarte and coordinator of the history division Richard Baquera for supporting the students in every single event we do,” said Chacon.
One of the participating students, Cesar Segovia, first-time fashion model, talked about his experience at the Summer Fest.
“This was really fun and getting to show off the clothes was awesome,” Segovia said.
“More than anything, though, it feels great knowing that this is all for a good cause.”
