Urara Araki, known most simply as Aki, is our school’s Fashion Club president. She is in her senior year here at Glendale High School, and she was recently elected as club president last semester. In her free time, she enjoys drawing and playing numerous instruments, mainly brass.
Aki initially saw the Fashion Club’s designs during the Stranger Things Homecoming Rally two years ago. The co-president at the time invited her to join the club, and when she was first starting out, she served mostly as a photographer for the club. Aki decided to stay with the club because she liked the prospect of being able to design clothes and work with the other members of the club.
Aki draws inspiration from the themes of each of our rallies. She takes important or iconic imagery from each franchise and uses that as inspiration. One example Aki mentioned was during the Nintendo Rally last year. They designed outfits based on Princess Peach, Daisy, Toad, and Toadette. They decided to focus on the concept of “iconic duos”.
Aki also gets a lot of her inspiration from Japanese fashion, more so from the Harajuku style that is cutesy, bright, and exaggerated. She incorporates this fashion style with some more Western ideas.
Aki explained how hectic it is preparing for each pep rally. She said, “It’s a nightmare.”
Many things go into getting ready. Everyone is divided up into groups that make different designs, but sometimes things tend to go south. People may run out of materials or time, so you may not always know if you have the right amount of designs for the runway show.
Other club members may also have different responsibilities during each rally. During the Nintendo Rally, Aki also had to perform as part of the drumline for their indoor percussion show, but she was modeling two sets beforehand. So it was difficult to change and get into the appropriate clothing she needed for each moment.
Aki said that during club meetings, there is a lot of brainstorming. Usually, she and her members talk about ideas for fundraising and rally designs, which are all common things in art-related clubs. They also bond over their shared love for clothing, fashion, and aesthetic design. Aki likes having a little community that can share what they think is beautiful and fits into the rally theme.
Aki hopes that the Fashion Club will continue to thrive after she graduates. She hopes that younger cabinet members will be able to carry on the legacy of the original president who started this club.
Aki is also hopeful that the club will be able to gain scholarship money from Arizona State University as they are under the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, which offers scholarships and design competitions. Aki hopes to leave a legacy, where young designers are motivated and inspired to keep designing and to leave a place where they can create and see their creations being made.
Aki has advice for people looking to get involved in fashion. She cites the iconic Nike slogan: “Just Do It”.
“You’ll never be able to take your first step if you’re too afraid to do so,” she said. “Taking the first step doesn’t mean that you’re not scared. It just means you were brave enough to push through that fear and continue moving forward, even if there are obstacles in your path.”
Aki hopes to have a career in music education. She recently participated in Impulse, a drum and bugle corps, and had a very successful season.
Aki is still looking for new club members, so you should join, especially if you also have a passion for fashion! Please contact their advisor, Ms. Shiroyan, at [email protected].