Ready. Set. Walk.

So you think fashion is all glamour and no game? The University of Georgia is ready to prove you wrong. You may see just the models and the clothes, but there’s months of preparation to get the work ready for the walk. Fashion Week is coming, and The University of Georgia Fashion Merchandising division is coming together to make this year better than ever.

“Fashion Week, whether you’re a watcher or a walker,” says model Christiana Johnson, “is a way to display diversity and see the power of expression.” Fashion has always been an outlet for creativity, and University of Georgia designers, directors and models are all coming together for a greater purpose: bringing a vision to life. According to Amanda Cooper, a senior Fashion Merchandising minor and president of a University fashion organization called The Agency,

“Fashion isn’t just pretty makeup and clothes on pretty people; it takes work to move a creative vision from paper to a person.”

Cooper is just one of many active participants in Fashion Week. From February 20th through the 24th, sponsored by the college of Family and Consumer Sciences, various groups and students from the Fashion Merchandising program will be partaking in a five day long fashion exhibition. These groups include the Fashion Design Student Association, Student Merchandising Association, and The Agency.

The Agency, the University’s first and only in-house modeling and fashion agency, sets the forefront for the fashion week, and works hand-in-hand with the thriving life of fashion in Athens and beyond. The Agency, which began in fall 2011, is owned and operated by University students. The goal of the organization is to give models, student photographers, stylists, and Public Relations practitioners hands on experience to build their portfolio. This group conducts two seasonal castings and meets every Thursday in Dawson Hall in order to prep for the February chaos. Cooper, who has been in the president position for the past two years, encourages anyone and everyone to support the fashion community.

“There’s something for everyone in fashion. Styling, modeling, designing, marketing, selling–its an industry that will always be around and growing.”

The Fashion Design Student Association (FDSA) and the Student Merchandising Association (SMA), also organizations that develop and enhance skills needed to obtain a career in the fashion industry, both partner with The Agency. While FDSA and SMA provide the designers and clothing merchandise for the fashion shows, The Agency contributes models. This years fashion shows will have over 100 models, stylists and designers combined according to FDSA and SMA.

To get involved and participate in the Fashion Week, the schedule of events is as follows:

February 20: Industry Night at Double Barrel
February 21: Naz & Court Installation and Trunk Show
February 22: SMA Fashion Show
February 23: FDSA Fashion Show
February 24: Africa Night Fashion Show

Fashion Week is a highly anticipated and renowned event. These University groups and students provide professional level work and opportunities in the fashion field. From New York to London to Milan, the best of the best debut their collections, and the University of Georgia is no exception to this worldwide event.