the b- side
The Michigan Daily I michigandaily.com I Thursday, March 28, 2013
* BY ANNA SADOVSKAYA
SENIOR ARTS EDITOR
The lights dim, the music humps we noticed that a lot of times we've
and slouchy, unimpressed models begin worked in communities outside of Ann
their seemingly grueling walk down Arbor, and we want to see how to imple-
the wood-clad runway. Taking on the ment change inside the Ann Arbor com-
role of walking hangers, models are an munity,"explained JonathanGlymph, an
afterthought to the impressive designs LSA junior and NOiRstylist."After doing
of Prada and the atmospheric indulgence our research, we figured out that there
of Dior. These are the faces of fashion were a lotof communities within Washt-
worldwide: The solemn, concentrated enaw County who go hungry and who
looks of incredulity, a patented and well needed those types of resources, and we
executed face. wanted to provide that."
Butin asmalloffice on the fourth floor NOiR hopes to raise $2,000, beating
of the Michigan Union, nine people work its previous record and providing thou-
toward a different approach to fashion. sands of meals through Food Gatherers.
NOiR's stake has less to do with a classic "A dollar provides three meals at
model pout or avant-garde designs and Food Gatherers, so if we provide $2,000,
focuses primarily on the purpose behind it would be 6,000 meals," Thomas said.
the show. "Every year, we try to strive towards a
"The thing that's unique about NOiR cause that we feel is essential to all of us,
from other organizations in fashion is and we feel like we can make a change."
that NOiR was one of the few organiza- The fashion-forward group's slogan,
tions that actually got into service," said "BE bold, BE kind, BE you," resonates
Canon Thomas, College of Engineering with every project it chooses to take on
junior and NOiR's president. and has a profound impact on the mem-
bers of the executive board.
BE bold, BE kind, BE you "We wanted to raise awareness about
bullying," Glymph said. "There was a
Each year, the group decides on a big problem with how people treated
community service venture. Last year, one another, and we wanted our motto
NOiR's annual fashionshowhelped raise as well as anyone who went to see the
money for Autism Speaks, an autism show, anyone who has an awareness of
spectrum disorder awareness associa- the NOiR show, to be conscious of the
tion. The show raised $1,500, the largest fact that individualism is appreciated
amount the organization has been able and wanted."
to donate to date. This spring, NOiR is This same cognizance of originality
donating money to Food Gatherers, an and independence led to the creation of
Ann Arbor-based group that provides NOiRin 1999. The group was then spear-
hot meals, snacks and groceries for headed by two University students who
seniors, children and low-income indi- aimed to affix themselves in the fashion
viduals in Washtenaw County. world by building a new outlet for their
"We chose Food Gatherers because artistic expression.