International students display native plumage

“Styles Around the World,” a fashion show, took place at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Student Center Lounge as part of International Education week.

The eleven students, from Argentina, Bangladesh, Burma, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates displayed traditional clothing of their cultures to an audience of about 20.

Karl McFarlane, of Jamaica, acted as master of ceremonies for the event and provided a commentary on the outfits.

Several of the participants told the audience about their clothing in their own languages. Many of the students said that their outfits were worn for weddings, holidays, or festivals, and not for everyday use.

The outfits ranged from robes and saris to dresses and headscarves. Eloisa Operto Leiva, of Argentina, wore the typical outfit of a gaucho, which is a person who works on a ranch.

She said that Argentina is known for its crop and beef production. She also performed a traditional Argentinian dance.

Hella Bekele, of Ethiopia, modeled a white dress and shawl made of material called shemma. Shemma is made of strips of cotton cloth that are sewn together.

She said that dresses like hers are typically worn at weddings, holidays, and other important occasions.

Sam Tetteh, of Ghana, wore a traditional shirt that had an elaborate black and white pattern. This type of shirt is hand-dyed and hand-sewn by a seamstress.

Aijan Tilenbaeva of Kyrgyzstan modeled the national dress that young women wear. These dresses are brightly colored and include intricate details.

Tilenbaeva said it is uncommon to see girls in the street in Kyrgyzstan wearing these dresses, unless it’s during a holiday, festival, or other cultural event.

Amer Al Kathiri, from United Arab Emirates, wore a white dishdash, which is a long robe, and a guthra, or headscarf. The dishdash is the typical outfit of men in the United Arab Emirates.

The fashion show concluded with a group walk down the runway.