Howard University Yardfest!

Three members of the VTU Creative team hit the streets to Howard University’s International Yard Festival (Yardfest) in Washington, DC on October 3, 2010. Tenesa Brown, VTU’s Creative Director along with enthusiastic Creative Team members, Maria Ar and Joi Russel ventured out to find inspiring ethnic and urban wear. As one of the most anticipated events of the Bison homecoming week, many Howard students, local university students and other Howard enthusiasts made their presence known. Amongst ethnic vendors, foods, and live music, the community came to celebrate Howard’s homecoming.

The VTU’s Creative Team sought out to find students with unique personal style that appeals to the overall theme of this year’s fashion show. Attending Yardfest gave them an opportunity to find Latino, Caribbean, and African inspired clothing while informing the community about VTU’s upcoming fashion show. A few of the standouts had what the team was looking for: bright and bold prints, distinctive textures, and other apparel and accessories reminiscent of African, Latino, and Caribbean culture. The event’s attendees were interviewed on their style and how it reflects their personality and culture. It was the perfect way to gain inspiration for the show. They had fun absorbing new cultures and explored different ways to express ethnic fashion. As this year’s show highlights the art of story telling, the creative team wanted to hear how the community incorporates their ethnicity into their daily fashion sense!

Here’s their story!

Jytoshia Bridges

 Jytoshia is a Fashion Institute of Technology Student studying Advanced Marketing/Fashion and is planning to graduate in 2013. Jytoshia’s African American and Native American heritage inspired her outfit. Specific aspects of her environment affect her personal style such as magazines, inspiration from other people and her fellow peers. If her harem pants were used for the VTU fashion show, they would match the style of the other garments going down VTU’s runway.

Nick Bowen 

Nick wears a Coogi sweater. The bright colors in the sweater attracted him to add it to his closet. He purchased his garment in Soho NY, while he also shops at American Eagle for his clothing. The aspect of his atmosphere that affects his personal style includes television and magazines.  The bright colors reflect the vibrancy in ethnic Latino clothing.

Kelauni Cook  

Kalauni, a Howard Alumni who studied Biology in 2010, recently took a trip to Senegal in Africa. Her trip to Africa greatly influenced her sense of fashion and style. Kalauni explained, "My trip back to the motherland was so powerful that I had to come back to the states and share it with my people here.“ The necklace she wears is from Senegal, while her earrings are handmade. The VTU team instantly knew that her necklace was a reflection of African-inspired fashion.

Javontae Thomas

Javintae wears coordinating Coogi pants and shirt.  The eye catching Egyptian patterns and bright colors influenced him to buy the outfit. As a native to Minnesota, he often makes many of his purchases in the Mall of America. The Egyptian prints he wears would make a perfect garment to showcase in VTU’s fashion show. (The Eye of Horus, which I happen to have a tattoo of, is a prominent symbol in Egyptian culture)

Jonathon Neal Hu student c/o 2012

As a Howard University student, Jonathon knew his participation in Howard’s Yardfest was important. Jonathon’s Lrg track jacket contained the symbolic African colors: green, yellow, and red. Also the phrase Deeper Branches Stronger Roots on the back of the jacket meant a deal of importance to him. The statement is powerful to him since the African American community is the strongest when they stand together and support each other. Jonathon composed his outfit together because he is very Pro-Black and felt that the atmosphere of Howard’s Homecoming Yardfest celebration is a great place to show case his outfit.

Hannah Baptiste

Hannah, a current Howard student flaunts authentic African jewelry. Last year at Howard a Mali jewelry maker sold items to students, and Hannah took advantage of the opportunity to have authentic African jewelry. Each element on the necklace such as the metal chevron, beading and the intricate braided leather rope symbolically represents different aspects of the specific elements from the Mali community village.

Cordney Best

Cordney flaunts a soccer jacket that promotes a Spanish team. Since VTU will showcase Latino related clothing, his outfit that flaunts a Spanish soccer team is an appropriate fit for this years fashion show.