FAST: the center of UCLA’s fashion scene
New York Fashion Week is in full swing, but you don’t need to look to the other side of the country to find a thriving fashion scene — UCLA has one right here on campus. Founded in 2001, Fashion and Student Trends (FAST) is UCLA’s premier fashion organization and the epicenter for students looking to delve deeper into the fashion world.
Read more to learn about FAST at UCLA.
As UCLA does not offer a fashion design major or minor, FAST creates an opportunity for students to explore their personal creativity, culture and fashion sense, as well as build experience and connections in the fashion industry.
FAST has nearly 200 members across 13 committees, creating a tight-knit community of students enriching their knowledge and developing skills through their projects. FAST Presidents Kaitlyn Xu and Marcus Vidaurri share about the variety of work done by FAST’s 13 committees:
“Journalists craft insightful articles exploring fashion's current and historical dimensions, while photographers, stylists, and models collaborate on expressive editorial photoshoots. Graphic designers merge these elements into an annual magazine, showcasing a year's worth of dedication and ingenuity.”
Xu and Vidaurri note that each spring the student designers’ work is showcased in an industry-level runway show planned by their production team. Student videographers also produce short films about the show. Even all the behind-the-scenes logistics are coordinated by student committees.
“The project budgets are managed by the finance team, while collaborations with industry leaders are facilitated by the sponsorship and events teams,” said Xu and Vidaurri. “The operations team ensures seamless internal communication and efficient management, and the marketing team amplifies FAST's narrative.”
Keep up with FAST by visiting fastatucla.com and following @fastatucla on Instagram. Membership applications for the upcoming year are held at the start of fall quarter and all interested students are encouraged to apply.
