For the past five years, Iowa State’s Project Runway has been taking the campus by storm. In a similar fashion to the hit TV show, the ISU version asks competitors to create original garments to be judged, and then a team is chosen as winner.

Although in Iowa State’s version students compete in teams rather than individually, they still face hardships.

“Since I am a marketing and international business major, the challenge I’ve faced was the actual construction of the garment,” said Dino Kordopitoulas, three-time competitor and senior in marketing. “I have a lot of fashionable ideas, but the ultimate construction of it was challenging.”

Through ISU Project Runway, Kordopitoulas has learned how to overcome the challenges associated with the design process.

Aerielle Smith, president of the Student Union Board and senior in apparel merchandising, design and production, said the overall planning and setup of the show takes approximately 20 – 25 hours.

Teams are given eight hours to design and construct their garments based on a theme given to them the night before. Kordopitoulas said the theme is too random to predict, but because Project Runway alumna Sweet P is the guest judge, it should be challenging and interesting.

The completed designs are judged on creativity, craftsmanship and crowd appeal. Judging isn’t as intense as seen on Lifetime’s Project Runway.

“I wish it was,” Kordopitoulas said. “They are not as constructive as I would like. You can tell the judges are trying to sugar coat some of their comments. We are in college; we can handle some tough love.”

Although there is no cash prize of $100,000 or instant stardom, the winning team will win a photo shoot and be featured in TREND magazine.

The models hit the catwalk at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union.