What to Expect at MODA Blooms 2024

As spring approaches, we have a lot to look forward to— sun, short sleeves, and of course, the Spring 2024 Fashion Show! This past weekend, we sat down with the MODA Board Presidents Chelsea Campbell and Joao Galafassi and Design Director William Hu to discuss the show and the process in a little bit more detail. So, sit back, relax, and read more about the process and what to expect at this year’s fashion show!

What will be different about the show this year? What should we expect?

W: We tried to focus on the experience of actually being in the space. One thing to keep an eye out for is the music, for sure— each song is tailored to the design it’s playing over so it matches the aesthetics. It's going to be a lot more performative, with things like interludes, build-ups, introductions, so definitely expect a lot of different kinds of music.

On top of that, we’ve also worked really hard on the audio/visuals. There’s going to be a projector displaying live, real-time audio-reactive generative works of art on TouchDesigner.

That sounds so cool! Are those all going to be student-curated and produced?

W: Yes! All of the music will be curated by Otis and I. We worked really hard on the setlist and mixing, and all of the audio/visuals are by me.

Audio-visual by William Hu

What’s the significance of the theme, MODA Bloom?

C: Oh, good question! I know at first we threw around the word “rebirth”, or the idea of blooming into a new season or chapter to keep consistent with the idea of spring.

J: Yeah. Because last year’s show was in the winter and this year we decided to move it back to the spring, we wanted the theme to reflect the shift to warmer weather and all the changes that come with it. At UChicago it’s not just a seasonal change— you can also definitely feel a collective change in mood and vibe across campus when the weather starts to shift. We definitely wanted to integrate that spirit, the idea of a renewed energy, into the theme.

C: It also relates to having a completely new Board this year as well, so a rebirth in that sense too.

J: Yeah, it’s a completely new Board, and MODA has done a lot of new things this year like the Magazine launch party— we’ve been trying to make ourselves more involved on campus in different ways. We’ve brought in speakers and collaborated with a non-profit called the Chicago Fashion Coalition. We have a lot of new exciting initiatives and I think that we felt MODA Bloom encapsulated that nicely.

via giphy

What has been the most fun or challenging part of the whole process?

J: A fun part is seeing the wedding between the creative elements of the show and the logistical headache that happens. Seeing it all come together, especially on the day of the show, will be really cool. I think this year we have let a lot of our organizers in marketing and design be more creative and less professional almost— we’ve let them spearhead a lot of the process, and I think everything, in general, has been projecting a more unique vibe.

C: I think a very specific fun thing was our collaboration with the student-run cafés on campus. I feel like that really gets people feeling like they’re involved— that they’re not just buying a ticket but that there’s also an immersive element to the show on campus.

I guess one of the main challenges has been trying to bring out the best in the space so that we can maximize the experience for everyone. We have messed with the overall configuration a lot— we want to make sure that everyone has a good view, especially the front row section. We want to make sure that everyone is getting their money’s worth and is able to have the best experience at the show. We’re pretty happy with where we landed.

W: I think a really fun thing so far in the process has been seeing the designs in photos and in person as we start leading up to the show. In the fall I was studying abroad in Paris, so I actually wasn’t able to see the designers during the interview and recruiting process in-person. But obviously, I was able to meet and work with them in the winter and spring, and it’s been really cool to see all of these designs come together because, frankly, the designers this year are extremely talented. They all come from different backgrounds— some have never sewed, some are seasoned veterans— so that’s the really fun part for me.

I could be wrong, but from what I’ve seen so far I can also see there’s a lot of movement in the pieces, so that will be interesting to see translated to the runway in relation to the theme as well.

Audio-visual by William Hu

W: Yes, for sure. I guess a little teaser or sneak peek is that some designers who are majoring in Visual Arts or Media Arts and Design are using this as an extension of their practice. Some of them are doing innovative things like crocheting pieces to go on top of other elements of their looks, some are painting over it, some have a very flowy approach to silhouette, and some have a more structured approach. There’s a little bit of everything.

J: To piggyback off of that, something that I think is really cool about MODA and the fashion show is that designers are not constrained by a season, or designing for a specific purpose. You have an almost unbridled freedom to design something that you really want to, so people end up producing a very wide range of looks. From a viewer’s standpoint, you’re able to see a lot instead of a flat, one-dimensional collection.

Are there surprises that guests can look forward to? Is there anything you can reveal?

C: Each year we have UChicago Maya and Ex Crew perform, so we are really looking forward to that performance. Every year is new, so it’s really fun to see what they come up with.

J: Yes! There are also going to be some student-made projects displayed at the show, as well as some sponsor-related materials.

Can you elaborate on some of the student-made projects?

J: Can I say it? One of them is a project by a student named Otis Gordon who created Checkpoint. We will have a Checkpoint station at the show. It’s basically… well, I don’t want to misspeak so I guess you’ll have to find out. But the concept involves taking pictures of guests and gives you a memento or souvenir from the show.

sneak peek of venue!

What are you guys most looking forward to at the show?

W: I’ve been in MODA since freshman year— I’m a third year now. So, I think out of all of the years I have been involved, this venue is the best one by far. There’s a lot of art, the acoustics are going to be great— I’m a little biased but I think the music is going to be really good. I’m looking forward to it.

C: Yes, shoutout to Will! The music is going to be great. I feel like it really brings together the connection between the designs that people came up with and the music to create a cohesive experience. There’s a lot of thought that went into it, so it’s not just random. Also, the venue itself, the art gallery, is also a flower. Are we allowed to say? Yeah, it’s a flower exhibit so it really ties together with our theme as well.

Visuals by William Hu, Music “IUDICIUM” by Passing Currents

J: I’m just excited for the show to actually start and happen— it’s not going to be the same as rehearsals, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it all comes together. It’s always different with all the guests there, it totally changes the atmosphere. I also am excited because I think that everything this year has been really thoughtful and we have put a lot of consideration into all of the minute details and have worked more closely with design to create the show.

W: And to kind of follow up on that, Parth, the Junior Design Director, and I have worked really hard to work more one-on-one with the designers more hands-on. For example, in the past couple of weekends, we’ve had the designers at our place from 7:30 am to 1 pm to just help them out as much as we could, design-wise. I think this year the looks themselves will be a lot more polished— there’s going to be super sharp tailoring, a lot of very interesting visual elements, and I think overall each collection is super cohesive.

Any other comments for our readers?

J: Buy tickets!

C: Yes, buy tickets fast!

W: It’s going to be the best thing all year.

Will do! Thanks for sitting down with us!

Come see all of this come to fruition at MODA Bloom, happening on Friday, May 3rd! Doors open for all guests at 6 pm and close at 6:45 (no exceptions)!

Buy your tickets here— hurry, they’re selling out fast! We look forward to seeing you there!

The Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed

Podcasts are my favorite way to decompress after a day of readings, psets, and the other grueling parts of UChicago life. Normally, I stay in my comfort zone and stick with my personal favorites like This American Life or Jake and Amir's If I Were You. 

Recently, I came across a Facebook post from none other than UChicago's Tobi Gbile about the launch of her new podcast: The Weekly Baecay (and if you haven't checked out our Quad Style profile on Tobi, direct yourself here first).

Tobi, along with her best friends Sophie and Jasmin, are dedicating their time to debriefing the world every week on pop culture, navigating us through the realms of Dark Twitter, and giving us the edutainment we desperately need. This triumvirate of Kansas ladies has raised the bar for podcasts. 

Meet the Team

Image Via

After the first episode, I'm hooked. Not only do these women offer an insightful take on pop culture and its implications, they also do it without pedantic weight. It's the perfect balance of gossip and information, never steering itself the wrong way. This podcast will definitely help you gain a perspective on dynamic yet nuanced changes in music culture and branch out past superficial listening of your favorite artists.

Image Via Tobi Gbile

Listen to the first episode of The Weekly Baecay below and appreciate this gem for yourself.

This episode touches on the tragic passing on Avicii, the return of King Kanye, and the valuation of music and its ability to revolutionize the American Dream. You don't want to miss it. Check them out here.

Feature Image Via Tobi Gbile

RBIM Show Review

Admittedly, I'm not one to attend many of the events that I get invited to via Facebook. Like many UChicago students, I am busy, tired, and not the most motivated after ~five whole months of cold weather. When I'm not doing homework, I'm at work; and when I get the chance to breathe, I'm usually complaining about all the work I should be doing.

But thankfully I have a friend in Rhythmic Bodies in Motion (RBIM) who asked me to watch the dance she had been rehearsing for for more than 10 weeks! And so I went to the first run of the RBIM show on a lovely Friday night for a vibrant break from schoolwork. 

RBIM is the largest dance RSO on campus. Their mission is to make dance accessible in order to empower students and the community. Each year, RBIM has a spring quarter showcase that highlights various styles of dance. Anyone can join the show, and it is completely organized by students.

I've been to many dance recitals in my life (thanks to all the ballet, jazz, and tap classes I grew up doing and a disinterest in ball games), but what made the RBIM show so great to watch was the display of community and determination. In the pamphlet, each dance came with a title and description that gave an idea as to why the choreographer composed their piece. It was amazing seeing people dance to what their peers had created. I give major props to the dedication and bravery it takes to learn a whole dance and to then perform it in front of people you walk by every day–especially when you've never danced before.

I left the show happy that I had taken the time out of my night to see what my peers are doing with their free time. I highly recommend attending the show next spring, keeping up with other events they may have on Facebook, and perhaps joining them!

All images via RBIM's Facebook

Music Mondays: Temisan Osowa (r_ckl_ss)

For this week's iteration of Music Mondays, we wanted to bring things closer to home and feature one of UChicago's very own alumnus, performing artist Temisan Osowa! 

So Temi, why don’t you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi, Iʼm Temisan, Temi for short. I graduated from UChicago last Spring as a Psychology Major, PreMed. Iʼm a musician; while I enjoy playing the saxophone and used to play piano, my current passion is being a singer/songwriter. My artist name is currently r_ckl_ss, which comes from a nickname my best/first friend from UChicago gave to me before school started. The underscores/lack of vowels come from some of my favorite artists like dvsn and spzrkt. I thought it looked cool and mysterious and artistic haha, and I wanted a cool name.

“...then I delved deep into the world of Hip-Hop, and became enamored. The way that so many stories are told, so many soundscapes explored, the entire culture and movement surrounding Hip-Hop, narratives and perspectives shared and lived, as well as the raw and passionate nature of the music genre drew me in.”

How did you begin your interest in music?
In high school, my best friend named Josh started introducing me to all sorts of music. At the time, I had only really listed to a small amount of Punk Rock, as well as a heavy dose of R&B (my first love). But then I delved deep into the world of Hip-Hop, and became enamored. The way that so many stories are told, so many soundscapes explored, the entire culture and movement surrounding Hip-Hop (whether that be fashion aspects, dance, social, historical, etc.), narratives and perspectives shared and lived, as well as the raw and passionate nature of the music genre drew me in. It, and music in general, is such a powerful and unique tool and way of communication. Then as a student here, I naturally tried my hand at music for fun, especially with friends like TR!C, Chief Wicked, and KSwiz doing such incredible things. I didnʼt take myself seriously as an artist until this summer/ fall when Atrician (TR!C) pushed me to do a few freestyles and verses, and realize that I had a talent beyond being a music consumer/curator.

How would you describe your music or personal signature?
My music signature is hip-hop inspired R&B, or alt R&B. While I listen to a decent number of genres of music, those two to three genres are the modes I find myself most comfortable and connected. While I like to Rap, I am not necessarily a thoroughbred singer, and I am always trying to improve and focus on flows and lyricism, most likely due to my musical background. Simple but effective songwriting as well as melody are the most important aspects of music to me, and that shows in the type of music I am making.

Who and what are your music inspirations? Do you have a favorite genre?
As I said earlier, R&B was my first love in music (Trey Songz and Chris Brown were always on repeat). The Weeknd and Frank Ocean, as well as PND (PARTYNEXTDOOR) were some of my earliest influences/favorite artists, and I naturally aspire(d) to make music like them. As of late though, I have found that my artistic and musical voice has started to sound like some other, relatively more low-key artists like Travis Scott, NAV, Amir Obe, Blackbear, and Eli Sostre. They are some incredible artists and song-writers who have a great aesthetic aspect to their music that suits me.

What’s your current favorite song or album?
My current favorite songs are Chanel by Frank Ocean, Love Galore by SZA and Travis Scott, Let You Go by Eli Sostre, Pull Up With Ah Stick by SahBabii, Teenage Fever by Drake, and Every Kind of Way by H.E.R. My favorite albums from this year is probably More Life by Drake, DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar, and blkswn by Smino.

How has or has not UChicago impacted your journey as an artist?
UChicago is a place where I feel like almost every single student and individual is forced to do a significant amount of personal reflection and growth. All of those life experiences Iʼve had over the past four years, as well as the setting of living in Hyde Park, Chicago has given me so much to write about. Chicago, UChicago, Hyde Park, are all such inspiring environments. Itʼs a dream for an artist to be quite honest… in my humble opinion.

“Music is an escape, it is a cathartic experience. Listening or making music feels like everything that is pent up within me finally gets a real, true release.”

To sum up this interview, how would you describe your relationship with music, now and in the future?
Music is one of the most important things in the world to me. Music has played a significant role in my identity, my interaction with culture, connections with people, and has become the best way for me to express my thoughts and emotions… originally through other peopleʼs music, and now through making my own. Dropping my first song on New Years was one of the best decisions of my life, pursuing passions is a must! Music is an escape, it is a cathartic experience. Listening or making music feels like everything that is pent up within me finally gets a real, true release. The opportunity to make and consume art just makes me so happy, is so exciting, and give me a sense of fulfillment. While I will now be working and positioning myself to attend medical school in the near future, music will always play an important role in my life. I will continue to make and heavily consume music, continue to grow, and continue to expand my horizons.

All images via Temisan Osowa

Get to Know the Photographer: Yamini Nambimadom

MODA Blog is lucky to work with a talented group of photographers. Today, we would like to showcase first year Yamini Nambimadom.

Tell us a little about yourself!

Well, for starters, I'm currently a first year in the College and will probably end up studying Public Policy and Comparative Human Development. I've fallen in love with a plethora of art forms because small releases of creativity are great motivators for me. On campus I've been really involved with Off Off Campus and MODA, which have provided me with incredible creative outlets as well as friendly and supportive communities. I love venturing around the city and taking in doses of culture, but I'm also just a simple fan of coffee shop hopping on campus. I love being busy and constantly active because I'm really just trying to experience and produce as much as possible with the time I have.

Why did you pick up photography?

My dad bought a DSLR when I was in middle school, and as he was learning to use it he would show me a few tips and tricks. By my sophomore year, he got a new camera and sort of stopped using the old one, so I started playing around with it, taking it everywhere with me, and capturing as much as I could. Even though moments change so rapidly, photographs don't, and that's what I like about them. They're such incredible indicators of time and of growth as well as incredible ways to turn the world into art, which is a really special experience.

Where do you draw inspiration?

I'm an avid people watcher and just a generally observant person. If something catches my eye, I take note of it and try to work it into a possible plan for a future shoot or just a quick capture for Instagram or something. I also love looking through other photographer's portfolios to get an idea of different styles, which I often draw from and experiment with into my photos to try new things.

What’s your favorite shoot you’ve ever done?

I don't know if I could call this a "shoot" but I spent a couple weeks last summer in Tanzania, where I had the incredible opportunity to be very close to a lot of beautiful wild animals. Over those two weeks, I took some of the best photos I've ever taken, including some great shots of lions, cheetahs, and leopards in the Serengeti.

As far as human models are involved, my favorite photos I've taken are probably either from a spontaneous shoot I did with Off Off I'm the fall, because the colors are breathtaking, or pictures I took for my good friend Isabella back home. She's so beautiful and her beauty radiates through the image and makes me feel really happy inside

Do you have a favorite location to go to shoot in Chicago?

Not yet! I'm new around these parts, so I've been trying to seek out new places every time I shoot, with the hopes that eventually I'll end up falling in love with a couple.

To see more of her work, check out her portfolio here!

All images courtesy of Yamini Nambimadom

Feeds to Follow: thingsbylauren

We're spicing up our Feeds to Follow to showcase some student work! Our first artist is Lauren Han, and her handle is @thingsbylauren!

Hi Lauren, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a second year Econ and Visual Arts major (as of right now) from Los Angeles, California.

What inspired you to take up art?
I think it was the idea that if I really wanted something, I could try and make it myself- things like posters for my room, Snapchat geofilters, etc. Especially in this day and age when modern art can be as simple as one color slapped onto a square canvas. It’s something I turn to when I’m stressed, frustrated, upset, or just bored while I’m watching TV. A creative outlet.

Why choose digital media/photoshop instead of a more traditional medium? I’ve always really liked graphic design and digital art. I started to teach myself Photoshop when I was in 8th grade, just because I was bored. Digital media flows better with me and it’s much easier to control and fix. All I have to do is hit Command + Z to erase a mistake, while with physical forms of art like paint and sculpture it’s not as easy. I also love how clean digital art is, and how there are a million different ways you could take it. It’s actually incredible how advanced programs like Photoshop and Illustrator are- you can do basically anything with them.

Tell us more about your creative process!
I started doing these illustrations recently because my mom wanted a cool artsy poster of our dog for the house (we’re all pretty obsessed with our dog, just about anyone can confirm that). I take pictures or stock photos and I use them as a reference while I draw. I’m drawn towards working with pictures of food, animals, flowers, etc. I draw a lot of things that have some sort of meaning to me.

Do you have any future plans with your graphic designs on campus? Could be for an RSO or just in your free time?
Yes! I’ve actually made a few of the on-campus Snapchat geofilters. I lived in New Grad last year and made that one, as well as the “Go Maroons” one that covers most of campus. I also did the geofilter for Delta Upsilon’s house. I’ve done smaller projects here and there, like designing T-shirts and logos for an RSO, a personal project, and for a frat party. That’s something I’d love to continue doing, assuming people ask!

Last question! Art is only one page of your story, so what other things are you involved in on campus?
I’m a graphic design intern in the Communications department at the Harris School for Public Policy. I’m also the visual design editor for MODA Magazine, the designer for The Maroon’s business team, and a part of Greek life.

To check out Lauren's other work, check out her instagram @thingsbylauren!

All artwork via

If you know any student artists you'd like to feature, please email julietlee@uchicago.edu