Models took to the runway in a range of cultural attire as Core 4 returned with a sold-out show at the Biltmore

Having never attended a fashion show or owning any cultural attire myself, I was more than a little curious to see what it was all about. After opting for the ‘formal’ option of the event’s dress-code, I dug out the slip-dress I had been waiting for an excuse to wear and made my way to the Biltmore.

From the social-media promotion for the show, to actually first walking into the building, it was obvious how much work and dedication had gone into making the experience a lively and memorable one.

The show’s theme this year being ‘Freedom through Heritage’, in which Core 4 said: “This year’s theme encapsulates the idea that embracing and celebrating our cultural roots is not only a source of pride but also a pathway to personal liberation”.

“It signifies breaking free from stereotypes and societal constraints, empowering individuals to express themselves authentically through their heritage”.

And that we did – both models and attendees alike. The venue’s atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm as the models owned the runway, with cheers and applause as we observed and celebrated the many cultures in the room.

Even for those who had not attended in cultural wear, the night affirmed an appetite from the residents and students of York – a city that is often considered as lacking in diversity compared to other popular University locations around the country

Second-year English Literature student, Lydia Chowdhury, said: “I hadn’t realised before, since my course isn’t diverse, [that] this event satisfied a need I didn’t know I had. Everyone celebrating and appreciating the different cultures was so fun and I feel revived”.

Made up primarily of students and associates of both the University of York and York St John University, Core 4 said: “The multicultural fashion show is about amplifying voices and narratives that are often underrepresented”.

Prior to the show, attendees had been kept well up-to-date with all of the behind-the-scenes organising, and informed us in time of what the night would entail, from teaser clips hinting what to expect on the runway, all the way to what drinks and canapés would be on offer.

The canapés, by the way, making the cultural experience of the show more immersive, with a selection including: Otto Cakes; Onion Pakora; Spinach Falafels; and Garlic and Honey Skewers.

Alongside the fashion show, the event gave participants the opportunity to showcase their creative talents through performances, music and poetry.

There was even the opportunity to discover small businesses made up mostly of students who had stalls for hand-made jewellery, ethnic haircare, as well as clothing.

This wasn’t a new venture for head organiser, Timi Phillips, a third-year Undergraduate student at the University of York.

Having headed Core 4’s previous fashion at the Biltmore in 2022, she returned to walk alongside the models this year with a special guest, her mum, joining her on the runway and giving the show an even more personal touch.

When speaking with Timi after the show, she had lots to say about what the show meant to her and her hopes for the future of diversity in York:

What was your first inspiration for the show and how did it start to come together?

“My inspiration for the fashion show was definitely borne from, in all honesty, a place of sadness. I think coming to York, a lot of people of colour will recognise that loneliness, that isolation, that kind of camouflaging we do because we’re surrounded by a very white-centric university”.

“I’m a very creative person and I just wanted a medium that wasn’t necessarily in the classroom or wasn’t necessarily so educationally centred. I wanted the education to be colourful and vibrant and [for] there to be this cultural exchange in a really informal and exciting way”.

“I really built a network and a community and I was able to understand the needs of the people as well as my own personal needs as a guide. But, you know, being a BAME representative, I think that gave me the courage, the network, and the bravery to do something so different”.

What does it mean to you to showcase and celebrate diversity through fashion?

“I think one thing I’ve learned as a Nigerian woman myself is the stories that go untold within our garments”.

“I’ve noticed in a lot of ethnic communities [that] what we wear to our traditional [and] cultural events represents so much meaning”.

“It’s about wearing your story, it’s about wearing your history”.

“Diversity through fashion means appreciating, not appropriating, the history behind certain prints and fabrics and that fusion of our historical narratives being brought into the Western lens and the dichotomy of a lot of the hybrid heritage we now have is a really beautiful way to tell these stories”.

Do you have any hopes for the future diversity of York, for residents as well as students?

“Yes. So I don’t necessarily think there needs to be more diversity. I think sometimes adding diversity without the right framework is almost setting people up for failure. I think the first thing I really want to see is that understanding on a deeper level what it means to be ‘inclusive'”.

“It can also be just as harmful when these spaces that we send people to aren’t structured or framed to protect and represent students from different backgrounds”.

“I really hope that I am able to change at least one student’s narrative, that one student feels truly represented and beautiful. Be that in the fashion show and for the future to come, but also to have conversations with their friends about what that meant to them”.

“One thing I’d like to add is that it’s been a privilege to be able to have my vision supported so fiercely, so fully, and so enthusiastically”.

And a privilege for myself too in having been able to attend the night in-person. Not only was I glad to have experienced something so new, but the night encouraged my own aspirations to be more assertive in exploring my own heritage in more depth and with pride.