Roughly 20 SLU-Madrid students joined the Fashion Club this September for Madrid Fashion Week, where they watched Best Model and Best Design awards and got an inside look into the professional fashion world.
“It was like being transported to another planet,” said Maeve MacDonald, a junior at SLU-Madrid and first-time MFW attendee, describing the surreal nature of the event. “The music, the visuals, and the designs—it felt out of this world.”
For MacDonald, the runway show was the most jaw-dropping aspect of the event. She recalled the atmosphere being extremely lively with everyone’s eyes completely glued to the catwalk.
Her favorite moment? “One model got her heels caught in her train and she just took them off and continued to walk and everyone cheered,” she said, “Her facial expression did not change the entire time, she looked straight ahead, took the heels off, and kept it moving.”
Despite this allure, Alexandra Hammond, the public relations manager for the SLU Fashion Club, says attending MFW is surprisingly easy.
“You just buy your tickets online and you can choose which day and which designer you want to go to,” she explained. Tickets are available on the IFEMA website and cost around 40 euros depending on the show.
While it may not yet rival New York or Paris in terms of size, MFW is rapidly expanding, according to Carolina Daou, president of SLU Madrid’s Fashion Club.
“Spain is the new ‘it’ country for fashion,” she said. “In the next 20 years it will be the next fashion capital, that is what makes MFW so special.”
Daou emphasized that the uniqueness of MFW, compared to more exclusive events in other cities, makes it anamazing opportunity for students.
“Now it’s still small, and you can easily get a ticket, but it’s becoming more exclusive. It’s important because it’s the future,” she said.
Attending MFW is not just about watching runway shows—it’s an immersive experience. Students who attended were surprised that it was more than just a runway show. Inside the IFEMA Pavillion they could get makeovers, try clothes and test new products from event sponsors. This aspect of MFW offers a unique opportunity for networking, Hammond said.
Leaders of the Fashion Club say they hope to offer students more of these experiences.
“We’re working to bring more events that are open to everyone in the university, where they can be inspired,”Mariangel Lugo, the Vice President of SLU Fashion Club, said. “We want to host parties with fun dress codes, bring in guest speakers, and give students a chance to network within the fashion industry.”
This is the second year that the Fashion Club has brought students to Madrid Fashion Week. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” MacDonald said. “Where else can you see a famous designer’s show for 40 euros?”
