PRESIDENT’S LETTER

from (Not Final Version) The Fashion Network Spring 2023 | Issue 11

CHESTER WILSON C

Hello! This is William Hohe, your currently serving president of The Fashion Network (TFN). It is with great privilege, pleasure, and honor that I am writing the president’s letter to you all for Issue #11 of TFN’s semesterly publication.

This all feels so weird for me to be writing this; it feels like only yesterday that I stepped foot with a cheetah print beret and my camera on the set of “Modern Western” in Fall of 2021 for my first shoot as an ambitious and intrigued freshman. Little did I know how powerful, important, and profound the acronym “TFN” would soon become in my life and the many lives that have touched my heart through this entire process.

“It feels like only yesterday” is a phrase I reserve for old people, or feeling old. This whole semester has been a nostalgic one for me and in that, “It feels like only yesterday” continues to ring bells in my mind amidst recollections of my time as a member in Fall 2021, serving as Photography Director in 2022, and now finalizing my first semester as president in Spring 2023. Where did all the time go? Seriously, I’m writing this 3 days, 12 hours, 47 minutes, and 32 seconds until CFE.3 WHERE DID THE TIME GO?

It’s hard to not feel nostalgic as I reach this halfway point in the college experience for me; I came into college as a COVID-19 graduate, giving a graduation speech from behind a floral printed mask, and not being able to give my favorite English teacher a hug at graduation (lots of love to you, Mrs. Fritts!).

In the time I entered college, I remember coming from the homogeneous, bubble-like suburbs of Chicago feining for a sense of community; for a cultivated culture of shared vision, appreciation, and dedication for the arts amidst all of the craziness of modern day life and keeping your sanity afloat.

I was not excited to come to college, in the beginning; seeing the inability to afford education in a pretentious and preppy NYC arts school seemed like a failure for me at the time and I reluctantly waved the orange and blue at graduation parties and celebrations the whole summer. The main worry on my mind was that I wouldn’t find any friends, colleagues, or collaborators to express my creative ambitions with, partner in elaborate projects on, or confide my dreams and desires of becoming a creative director with. UIUC was for STEM-people and individuals who excelled in the likes of AP Calc and Chem with ease (not me, at all. I got a 1 on the exam. I hate Calculus).

I’ve meditated on writing this letter for quite a while and regularly practice writing letters to my past and future self. In a way, I want this letter to be both for me but also for you all, my lovely TFN family, to prove to you that the community I was yearning for was only 2.5 hours from home. If I could back and do it all again, I would have only applied to UIUC from the start; and the overt reason for this is overwhelming because of The Fashion Network.

With that in mind, I want to thank this community for showcasing, inspiring, and working so hard this semester. Each of you, through 4 photoshoots, countless workshops, socials, and CFE.3, have proven your dedication, openness to experimentation, and love for creative collaboration.

It has truly been the highlight of my year to serve as president. I want to take a second to thank my executive board: Olivia, Thomas, Kailey, Sophie, Monique, Nolan, Naina, Alysa, Samantha, Anu, Sam, Alex, and Francesca. Each of you has worked tirelessly to make this semester the biggest one yet for TFN; your work does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. We could not have done this without all your specific roles and expertise. You all continually amaze me and I am beyond grateful to lead this organization with you all.

To all the photographers, videographers, MUAs, models, stylists, creatives, and individuals who helped support TFN, lead the charge, and encapsulated the spirit of this community, I thank you. One thing I have come to love about the college experience is that the desire to try, the desire to learn, and the desire to commit yourself to something is much more apparent due to the time constraints amidst these busy 4 years. Each of you devoting your time and making space for TFN in your life warms my heart; that desire to commit yourself to art is the energy that keeps TFN thriving. I adore each of you; I look forward to continuing leading you all next semester and eagerly anticipate our return to the runway in the Fall.

WILLIAM HOHE THEY/HIM PRESIDENT

THOMAS SANDERS HE/HIM OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

SOPHIE MENNENGA SHE/HER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF