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Second-year international economics and psychology student Alina Lee strikes a pose during a rehe

Living in Los Angeles, the media sensory overload of conspicuously consuming celebrities can drive students into added debt for the hottest item on the rack of Fred Segal, or, on the other extreme, force penny-pinching students to become jaded and opt for the California uniform of comfortable denim and flip flops.

For fourth-year sociology student Arthur Pogosian, founder and president of University of California Fashion and Student Trends Los Angeles, the universal necessity for clothing is a perfect medium to raise social awareness.

“So many times fashion people are just seen as types that don’t care (about what’s going on in the world), but we do care. My line is about a lifestyle that is much more than deciding a cute color,” said Pogosian, who encourages club members to participate in community service.

Pogosian takes inspiration from current events, such as the bombings in Madrid, gay marriages in San Francisco and homelessness, culminating into the theme “sangre” for the fall/winter collection he designed, premiering May 25 at FAST’s annual fashion show.

FAST, spearheaded by motivational leader Pogosian, is a network for students interested in fashion to break into the business. Last year, the organization facilitated an opportunity for aspiring models to compile a portfolio by providing a stylist and a photographer. During this past year, potential employers from BCBG Max Azria, Custo Barcelona and Puma have guest spoken at its weekly meetings.

The primary project of FAST is the production of a runway show featuring clothes designed and modeled by students. Aside from providing contact information and internship opportunities, the aforementioned labels, along with Nordstrom and Monica’s on Broxton, have sponsored the organization by providing their collections to be showcased at the runway show.

“My ability to create a vision has expanded so much more from being in this organization,” said alumna Jesseca McNeill, who oversees the makeup and hair production components of the show.

While Pogosian drew inspiration from world news, McNeill, who graduated in winter 2004 with a degree in international development studies, stumbled upon her passion while traveling and experiencing international culture for her major.

“People interpret clothing differently in every country, and all the fabrics were so intriguing to me. That’s where I really made the decision that fashion was what I wanted to do,” she said.

McNeill’s experiences abroad led her to her calling, but FAST was essential in stretching her ideas and providing a means to realize her goals.

The clothing lines in the show are as diverse as the UCLA campus itself. Kate Duggan, a second-year art history student, designed vintage re-creations inspired by the paintings of Gustav Klimt and Edgar Degas, as well as the style of “Sex and the City” character Carrie Bradshaw, as shown in her scrapbook full of fashion magazine clippings and fabric swatches. Melissa Maldonado, a third-year women’s studies student, takes an eclectic Bohemian style approach, using rusty colors, bottle caps, hole-punched metallic ribbon and puff paint embellishments as inspiration.

Aside from occasionally altering an old shirt, this is the first real technical experience for almost all of the student clothing designers.

“It’s all been trial and error, and it’s frustrating because I don’t have any (sewing) experience. But I know when I see my stuff (on the runway), I’m going to be excited that I actually did it,” said Maldonado, who decided clothing design was her passion after having had the opportunity to design for the FAST fashion show.

Maldonado’s sense of fulfillment and career direction has been expressed 10 times over by other participants of FAST. A model in last year’s show, third-year sociology student Marissa Borelli is designing a “new romantic”-themed line this year.

“FAST is a little outlet to throw creative talents out there, because UCLA doesn’t have anything fashion,” Borelli said.

Other success stories of creative talents include Pogosian, who will further his design and fashion marketing education by attending Parsons School of Design in the fall. Duggan, by her own initiative, secured a summer internship at the Diane von Furstenberg’s design studio in New York.

Whether the interest for fashion was a mere inkling or a full-blown lifelong dream, the energy of working with passionate peers is the greatest inspiration expressed throughout the organization’s members. Pogosian is ecstatic that he has helped open eyes to possibilities beyond the lawyer and doctor stereotypes of career options.

“There are students who want to pursue fashion now, where before it was a joke to them,” said Pogosian. “It was just about a shopping spree and now (they see) it’s a serious business.”