Sigma Kappa sorority will host its fourth annual Ultra Violet Fashion Show at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at the Memorial Union. 

The fashion show is Sigma Kappa’s largest philanthropy event. The proceeds benefit charitable projects of the Sigma Kappa Foundation, including its support of Alzheimer’s disease research, gerontology, the Maine Sea Coast Mission and Inherit the Earth.

The main event of the evening is a fashion show, featuring student-made garments and clothing from the local boutique Ayden Lee. The student-made garment element of the fashion show is a competition that will be judged by a panel of three judges. They will select first, second and third place winners, and the guests of the event will be given the chance to vote via text message for a “People’s Choice” winner.

Kellyanne Gunderson, senior in event management, is the sorority’s philanthropy coordinator for the fashion show.

“The planning for this year’s Ultra Violet started with choosing and booking the venue,” Gunderson said. “Last year, Ultra Violet was held at the Iowa State Alumni Center, but to accommodate the growing event we have [chosen] the Sun Room and South Bathroom in the Memorial Union.”

The ladies of Sigma Kappa have also decided to change the requirements when entering a garment into the show. In the past, designers submitting garments were limited to purple to fit the theme of the event.

“I decided this year to allow all colors and types of garments to make the show more interesting and to help raise the number of submissions by designer,” Gunderson said. “The change in theme will also be new to previous attendees of the event and allow us to show off more of the style of Ayden Lee.”

Throughout the evening, there will be a silent auction composed of donations from large companies, local businesses, members’ families and alumnae of Sigma Kappa.

“Letters were personalized and hand delivered to local businesses asking them to help support the cause,” Gunderson said.

The silent auction will have a wide variety of creative themed baskets that Gunderson said are affordable for college students.

Another element to the event is live music and a newly created solo project by Sigma Phi Epsilon member and junior in industrial engineering, Abhi Pant.

Pant described his music as, “hip-hop, rap, experimental, acoustic; it’s a mixture of things.”

Food and beverages will be included with the ticket price of $5 before the event or $7 at the door.

The planning for the event began before last April, and Gunderson and other Sigma Kappa members have been working ever since.

“The planning for this event has included lots of communication between my adviser, the chapter, alumnae, member’s parents, local businesses, the Ayden Lee owner, Abhi Pant, designers and more,” Gunderson said.

The event is in its fourth year, and Gunderson said she hopes the changes will make a positive impact on the experience.

“Our Ultra Violet event continues to be successful year after year with the support of our members, alumnae, fellow students, local businesses and members’ families,” Gunderson said. “In the past, the event has raised over $4,000.”

Sigma Kappa’s Ultra Violet Fashion Show features and highlights the talents of fellow students as designers, models and performers. The event begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, in the South Ballroom and Sun Room of the Memorial Union.