By Ami Medina, March 4, 2025
As live bands energized the crowd, models hurried backstage, slipping into their meticulously designed outfits, each piece ready to make its moment in the spotlight.
Fashion lovers from across the Inland Empire gathered at The Haven in Downtown Pomona Saturday, Feb. 22, transforming the venue into a vibrant runway for the second annual Crows Fashion Show.
What began as a typical performance by the band Raccoon Cartoons last fall turned into the birthplace of a revolutionary idea. Singer Nicholas Vela, an art history student at Cal Poly Pomona, and his friend, Isaiah Wallace — a recent apparel merchandising and management graduate from CPP — pitched a new vision.
“I asked Isaiah why he didn’t have a spotlight for his art,” Vela said. “Our art is music, and his is fashion. We get to perform at shows in front of an audience, while he usually sells his work outside. He told me that showcasing your work in the fashion industry is a lot more challenging.”
Vela later shared his idea of organizing a fashion show with his friend Maximus Espinoza, a CPP graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in business management. Together, they began researching and analyzing fashion shows, laying the groundwork for bringing their own vision to life.
“We are a great duo,” Epinoza said. “Nicholas is more extroverted, and I’m more introverted. He handles the models and designers, and I handle the business.”
The first Crows Fashion Show took place last year Sept. 20 and 21. Since then, the founders have set their sights on making the show a seasonal event, with collections tailored to each season. Preparation for this most recent show began five months ago, immediately following the first event last year.
The inspiration behind the name “Crows Fashion Show” came during a conversation between Vela and Espinoza while eating in Santa Monica.
“I saw a group of pigeons going after food, and I correlated it to people and fashion — people hungry for fashion,” Vela said. “But instead of pigeons, I changed it to crows. The audience is encouraged to wear black to represent being a crow and watching the stage.”
Wallace, who runs the clothing brand @wlove.co on Instagram, emphasized the diversity of styles featured in the show.
“There is a lot to offer this season,” Wallace said. “Each designer is giving off different vibes. My line is about rebellion, about what’s going on in our country. I want to remind people that they have power over politics.”
Among the models was Dana Burlingame, a local artist whose art account on Instagram @astral.glitch, showcases her work. She not only modeled in the show but has a deep-rooted connection to it since her mother, Jill Burlingame, was invited to be a designer in the first show.
Jill Burlingame runs @jillbeesews on Instagram, a clothing brand specializing in handmade skirts.
“Since the first show, she has developed so much as a designer, and I am happy Nicholas was gracious enough to have us back for this show,” Dana Burlingame said.
Meagan Keschner, an environmental biology student at CPP, returned to the runway after modeling in the first show. Keschner walked for three designers and was consistently changing into different outfits all night.
“It’s a little hectic backstage, but that’s normal,” Keschner said. “Overall, everyone is really helpful. We are here to support and have fun, and I’m looking forward to being part of more Crows Fashion Shows.”
The night featured performances by Raccoon Cartoons and Via Diocares, whose indie melodies kept the energy flowing as the models prepared for the runway. As the evening continued, the after-party ignited with a performance by Pak Joko, whose recent rap hits captured the event’s high-energy atmosphere.
For those eager to follow the journey of Crows Fashion Show, @alicefashionsociety on Instagram provides updates for upcoming shows and showcases past designers and looks.
Feature image courtesy of @wloce.co on Instagram
