Due to the shortage of power supply in my vicinity lately, I haven't been able to post about the fourth day of final year brethren week in my school for days now. For those who have been watching out, I am sorry I halted. I am proceeding with the story now. I can't afford to let the great people on blurt miss out on any of the gist. So, I am bringing it on. Let's go into the Day 4. The fourth day of our FYB week was tagged "Denim Day".
Denim Day is another fun day during the final year brethren week. It is a tradition whereby FYB students are encouraged to wear denim, whether it's jeans, shirts, or jackets. I guess the idea behind Denim Day is to celebrate the diversity of students and to promote a sense of community and togetherness. It also promotes positivity and Kindness.
Also, Denim Day is one of the occasional days on campus when students especially those in ultimate class are allowed to express themselves and show their creativity through clothing. This day focuses more on creativity and self-expression. Denim is one of the important days of FYB week. It provides reasons for students to explore and present their findings to other students.
16th of November, 2023 was day 4 of our FYB week tagged "Denim Day". It was another experience of fun and entertainment. I woke up very early to prepare for the day so that I wouldn't miss out on any of the activities of the day like I did the previous day. I observed my morning routine, dress up in my Jean trousers, white singlet, jean jacket, and a pair of white sneakers. I took some pictures in the front of my villa and headed straight to school. As usual, the school is already filled with students wearing different styles of clothing designed with Jean fabric. This day opened my eyes to things I didn't about the fabric type called Denim. Previously, I only regarded it as a normal kind of cloth that people design into any style of their choice.
The event of the day started with a complimentary session. Final-year students from the English department were all gathered in an open space on campus when the course leader opened the floor by complimenting our demin clothing. He encouraged everyone to do the same. For the next hour, students began to spread kindness by saying nice things to one another, complementing one another, and creating designs on one another's dresses. It was a full moment of expression of love and kindness.
I guess the idea behind this session is to help create a positive atmosphere and remind students that everyone is unique and valued and apparently, that was achieved. I could see smiles on the faces of my classmates. For me, the act created a memory to hold onto when I eventually parted ways with my coursemates and somehow, It sprung up a sense of hope and optimism in me. That's the power of compliment. Learn how to say nice things to people and never talk down on anyone.
We quickly had a photo session after the compliments. We took the pictures in groups and of course individually. It wasn't difficult for anyone to smile at the camera because of the effects of the complimentary session we had earlier.
The next activity was a jean-themed fashion show and dance-off. The host of the day invited students to the podium to show off their denim dresses. Students came in different styles, some in tight trousers while some opted for Palazzo trousers, some in long flowing gowns, and some in short gowns, Some were dressed in jackets and pocket caps all made with jean fabric. After the fashion show, He invited another set of students to a dance where they showed off their moves with their beautiful jeans dresses. The show was so entertaining that people were stretching their necks to have a clear view of what was happening on the podium. In the end, a lady won the fashion show and a guy won the dance-off.
Creativity is natural for everyone one. Individuals only know how to express it differently. After the winners of the fashion and dance show have been announced, we moved on to the next activity which was Creativity and Artistic expression. In this session, students were invited to show off their creativity and artistic skills through decorations and designs on their denim wear. Individual on the podium were given time to speak about their designs, the patches, turn part, and other embellishments on their denim wear, and what each means to them. They all shared the meaning of their denim clothing. Two persons won this session- the lady who shared the most meaningful connection with her unique dress and the lady with the best decorated and creative denim look. Both ladies got a job offer from one of the invitees, Mr. Caleb Omoge, the CEO of SlayIt Clothing
We moved on to the next event, "Denim Challenge".I am aware that everything and everyone came from a source but I couldn't believe something as trivia as a fabric could actually be traced back to a particular source. The challenge was about the history of Denim and how it became popular. A few students jumped on the challenge but only one person got the crown because she was the one who got the story correctly.
According to Rhoda, the winner of the challenge, the story of denim goes all the way back to the 18th century when cotton fabric was first produced in the French city of Nîmes. This fabric was originally known as serge de Nîmes, but it was eventually shortened to denim. One of the most iconic uses of denim was in the creation of blue jeans. In the 1870s, a tailor named Jacob W. Davis designed a pair of pants made of denim that had metal rivets to reinforce the stress points, making them more durable for hard work.
Moving further, she said Davis partnered with Levi Strauss & Co. to sell the pants, and the first pair of Levi's jeans were born. The fabric gained popularity in the United States, where it was used for workwear and clothing for laborers. Over time, denim became a symbol of American culture and fashion, and it's still popular today. Denim has even been called the "fabric of our lives" because of its importance in American history and culture.
Another interesting aspect of the history of denim she mentioned is its connection to music and popular culture. She said that during the 1950s, denim jeans became associated with the rebellious nature of rock 'n' roll and the youth culture of the time. Denim was also seen as a symbol of freedom and self-expression, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. Denim inspired a new style of music called "country rock," which combined elements of country music and rock 'n' roll. The influence of denim on music and culture is undeniable. The jeans became popular for their durability, comfort, and style, and that's why it is still a popular item of clothing today. Before that day, I never knew such a history of Denim fabric existed. As I get entertained by each activity, I also learn.
At the end of the challenge, all the winners of each contest were invited to the podium to receive their prizes. We all cheer them as they walk to the stage to receive their cash prizes. I was very happy for them and wished I was one of them. The host called on Rose, the fashion model in class to say a vote of thanks after which we landed on "item 7" for the program. It was fruit juice and Ofada rice, Our local and delicious meal.
The last part of the fourth day was the after-party that is, the party after the actual event. It was an outdoor party. It took place at a spot popularly known as Quadrangle on campus. A disc jockey was invited to give us sound. We all danced and partied hard. My aching legs can attest to that. There were also plenty of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for everyone to drink. Some drank responsibly and some spoilt themselves with alcohol and started misbehaving. Indeed, alcohol can turn a person who is as gentle as a dove into a monster in a twinkle of an eye. It is the only drink that is capable of waking up the sleeping demons in people.
The party ended at about 7 pm and everyone dispersed although some were carried home by their friends.
Of all the days of the FYB so far except the first day, the denim day is another day I learned the most.
Here are some of the things I learned.
--Demonstrating love and kindness to people contributes to their view of life and view about themselves.
--It is essential to compliment and say nice things to people around. That will increase positivity thereby leading to more productivity.
--It is gainful to be creative and skillful even in little things we know how to do
--It is important to be versatile and well-informed, especially about things happening around us.
--Discipline is an important virtue. If you have to drink, drink with a great sense of responsibility and stop when you have to stop.
And that was how the activities on Day 4 went.
Watch out for Day 5
