Bold. Striking. Experimental. These three words describe The Agency’s “Into The Matrix” fashion show, held on Friday, Nov. 21.
“I think events like these are very important because I think it’s good to show people what’s out there,” Zoie Daughtry, the creative director of The Agency, said. “I think that there’s so much out there that people are unknown to, that I’m unknown to, and I just think that having these experiences of different things happening in the world, it kind of shows you how vast and how much there is out there to explore.”
The Agency is a student-run and student-led modeling agency at the University of Georgia. During the event, they showcased bold silhouettes, striking hair and makeup, eclectic looks and more.
“I feel like without fashion, society would just be dystopian; everyone would wear the same thing,” Sharvil Kulkarni, an attendee of the event, said. “I feel like society needs fashion in order for self expression.”
Hosted in the courtyard of the Geography-Geology building on UGA’s campus, guests began taking seats at 6:15 p.m., socializing until the show began at 7 p.m. The models showcased their looks for 30 minutes, and guests were invited to stay and mingle until 8:30 p.m.
Taiwo and Kehinde Opaaje, twin first-year students at UGA, were the first model duo to take the runway.
“Modeling has been sort of an escape for me, like it’s a place where I get to express myself freely without feeling like I’m gonna be judged,” Taiwo Opaaje said.
As Taiwo Opaaje reflected on the freedom she finds on the runway, her sister noted how their bond shapes their performance
“A lot of people ask us if we have twin telepathy, and I feel like that really plays in when we’re modeling because…we have to be on sync,” Kehinde Opaaje said. “We just automatically get on sync because we’re twins, because we’ve been together so long, so we kind of know what the other person is thinking.”
The Agency fashioned the courtyard into a dynamic runway with obscure loops and paths for models to walk on. Chairs and benches lined the perimeter beneath white, blue and red spotlights, with each seat containing a program detailing executive staff, models, creatives and stylists.
“I would say…fashion is more than just a hobby to me,” Daughtry said. “It’s my major, my career; it’s what I want to do.”
Taiwo Opaaje noted that modeling is a competitive industry. The Agency gives students exposure to the real world because it’s close to what it looks like to actually be in high fashion modeling.
The models strutted, donning stoic and aloof expressions to match their distinctive ensembles. They walked in pairs of two, then alone, then in quick succession back to back.
Beyond the choreography, the runway served as a reminder of how fashion communicates far more than clothing alone. For many students, it acts as a personal outlet, but it also is used to send messages and make statements.
“I think fashion definitely reflects the time period that you’re living in,” Daughtry said. “It reflects [the] politics that are happening.”
The night’s aesthetic leaned heavily on contrasts. Sporting black leather jackets, denim, scarves, footwear and the like, each unique look was elevated with silver adornments and inventive makeup.
For others, fashion is as much about perception as expression.
“[Fashion is] a first impression,” Kulkarni said. “The first thing I see when I see a person is what they’re wearing. What the person is wearing automatically makes me think of them in a certain type of way.”
The show also highlighted creativity through sustainability. Every outfit was styled from garments and pieces already in each model’s closet, giving them the opportunity to see their possessions reshaped into something new and innovative.
For Taiwo Opaaje, the experience carries an additional layer of purpose. She said modeling allows her to stand as the representation she once searched for.
“When I was younger…I didn’t see people doing different things, or looking different ways, or being people of color,” Taiwo Opaaje said. “So I like that I get to be representation for other people who might want to get into this field.”
