Student volunteers from the University of Oregon and Oregon State University came together Saturday night to don sequined dresses, basketball shorts, lingerie and even a wedding dress or two at the eighth annual black heritage fashion show, sponsored by the Sigma Delta chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
The show combined fashion, music and dance with a celebration of black culture — and pulled it all off in style.
“I thought it went excellent,” said Bola Majekobaje, a Sigma Delta member who has worked with the fashion show for each of her three years at the University. “It gets better every year.”
This year’s show, called “Coming to AmeriAKA,” was the first the AKAs have put on as an official chapter. The University and OSU joined last spring to charter the first AKA undergraduate chapter in the Eugene and Corvallis areas.
The fashion portion of this vibrant show consisted of four scenes, each featuring a different clothing theme.
“After 5,” the first segment, featured “club” clothes from Mariposa, West Moon Trading Company, Eddie Bauer Inc and Deb. Female models strutted their stuff in sequined tops, leather pants and clingy dresses, while the men wore basic black and khakis.
Next, models dressed down for the “Pajama Party” scene. Sleepwear from The Bon Marche and Deb ranged in style from sexy satin nightgown sets, to fun animal print pajamas and slippers.
For those interested in a more active approach to fashion, the show also included a sports scene, featuring athletic apparel from Copeland’s Sports and Champs Sports.
The final fashion scene, “The Wedding,” featured formal wear from The Bon Marche, Deb, Mariposa and Mr. Formal. The centerpiece of the scene was a wedding dress on loan from Bride’s Corner and modeled by Kim Winston. Along with the more conventional approaches to formal attire, there were also some less traditional looks — such as white tuxedo jackets for the men.
Breaking up the fashion scenes were several music and dance performances. The show featured traditional African drumming, as well as dance performances by the AKAs, Zeta Phi Beta sorority members and Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity members.
Vocalist Olivia Callier sang the Black National Anthem and “Endless Love.” The musical group Morse Code also performed between scenes.
The show ended with all members of the cast coming back on stage to dance in the crowd-pleasing “Hip-hop Reception” scene.

Sigma Delta graduate advisor, Tricia Llewellyn said student volunteers have been preparing for this show all year.
“It’s been months of hard work, but it went great,” said Llewellyn, a member of the Upsilon Gamma Omega graduate chapter of AKA. “Everything went smoothly.”
Although the show was free, donations of hygiene products were requested, Llewellyn said. Those products will be donated to Womenspace.
Profits from the after party, held at the Doubletree Hotel, will go back to the community through sorority service projects, Llewellyn said.
Model David Kong said he had a lot of fun being in the show.
“I thought it was great. I met a lot of good people,” he said.
Kong, an OSU junior, said he got involved with the event through his girlfriend, Kafiat Majekobaje, who is a member of the Sigma Delta chapter of AKA and also attends OSU.
Kong said his favorite outfit was in the program’s wedding scene.
“My tux was tight,” he said.
Audience member Amy Martin said she enjoyed the high energy level of the performance.
“I liked the attitudes different people put into it,” she said.
Martinique Hughes, a University junior, said as an annual event, she likes the fashion show because it is a great way for students to get involved on campus and learn about black culture.
“It’s for everyone — not just for Greeks or people of black heritage,” she said.