Isa Cruz

Morrell Lounge lit up with vivid multicolored lights and bright cheers as the annual Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Fashion Show took place to commence Bowdoin’s AAPI Heritage Month celebrations last Saturday. Featuring members of the Chinese Student Association (CHSA), Japanese Student Association (JSA), Korean Students Association (KSA), Philippine Society of Bowdoin College (PSBC), South Asian Students Association (SASA) and Vietnamese Students Association (VSA), the night featured students walking down the catwalk in fashion important to their cultures, as well as a series of unique dance performances.

Sophie Yook ’25, co-president of the Asian Students Alliance (ASA), who organized the show, explained what ASA’s goal was with this event.

“The idea of an Asian identity is so vast and combines so many different ethnicities and cultures and backgrounds. So when we say we’re Asian, there’s so many different kinds. Our biggest goal is to be a space and provide opportunities for all these AAPI groups to come together and interact … and allow other people to see the diverse representation of different cultures,” Yook said.

Yook also remarked on the importance of fashion in conveying cultural identity.

“Fashion is something that has been present throughout history [and] captures the idea of tradition and how that has evolved over time. It was really cool to see students wearing garments that both were historical and traditional versus those who showcased a more modern fashion. It’s a type of visible identity that allows us to see how culture has changed,” Yook said.

Sisters Rockella Thach ’28 and Oceana Hangret ’25 walked together in a traditional Vietnamese Ao Dai with silk pants. Hangret shared her favorite parts of the night were the energy of the audience and participating in the show with her sister.

“Just hearing people laugh, hearing people react to the funny jokes of our hosts, people enjoying the dance, clapping along—even though we don’t tell them to—and being able to be fully present in a room full of people who appreciate the same things that you do—it’s amazing for human connection, and that’s one of the things I’m really passionate about,” Hangret said.

Timmy Ignacio ’26, who was one of the choreographers for the PSBC dance, wore his father’s traditional wedding garment on the catwalk and talked about how the fashion show was an opportunity for him and other performers to connect more with the Asian community on campus.

“I went to a high school where like 90 percent of us were Asian, and I felt normal there, whereas here, that’s obviously not the case,” Ignacio said. “It’s nice to feel connected to the people who remind me of that time when I didn’t feel that way, because no one should feel like a minority on a campus, even if they are one.”

Maya White ’25, the secretary of PSBC, echoed Ignacio’s sentiment about connecting with Asian culture through the show.

“I’m half Filipino, so even just like speaking with my grandma about preparing for the fashion show and telling her, ‘Hey, I’m doing this. I’m learning the traditional dance,’ or ‘I’m wearing this,’ [made me feel] so much closer to her and closer to that part of me, and specifically, that part of my culture, which I feel like for a long time I didn’t really feel super connected to,” White said.

Ana Lopes ’28, an audience member, spoke about why the AAPI Fashion Show was an important event on campus.

“I think the most important part is bringing different people together through fashion and dance,” Lopes said. “For example, I had no idea about the cultures and specific dances, and I learned so much just by seeing them, by seeing their songs and by seeing their styles and their interpretations.”

Ocean Park ’25, one of the leaders of the KSA, explained how she has seen the representation of affinity groups improve during her time at the College.

“I’d say we do have a lot more representation, not just in numbers, but also in how the community shows up on campus. I feel like Bowdoin as a college has also grown in learning how to represent ASA and all those different groups,” Park said.

Angi Lin ’27, who walked in a silvery Mamianqun, a traditional Chinese skirt also known as the “horse face skirt,” talked about the importance of having such events at the College.

“It’s a rough world out here. But I really think connecting with people who are here right now, and being in the moment is such a big thing that is very much needed now,” Lin said. “[The fashion show] really showcases the importance of celebrating people’s differences but also recognizing, appreciating and understanding that we’re all different, but we can all exist and love what we love.”