It’s a long jaunt down the catwalk to make it in the fashion world, but Ryan Zies is taking strides from college student to fashion phenomenon.

Zies, junior in apparel, merchandising, design and production, premiered his women’s spring clothing line at Club Element, 2401 Chamberlain St., on Saturday with the hopes of launching it at stores that carry his label around the country.

“It kind of fell into place. The people at Club Element talked it over about having a fashion show,” Zies said. “The show was a good way to get my line out there and get people to see it.”

Zies started his own clothing line last summer after a co-worker at an internship urged him to do so. His line was a hit, he said, with his line making it places such as Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, New York and Massachusetts.

Zies had been working on the clothes that appeared in the show for a few months. He said the guys’ clothes were already made this summer for his clothing line, and the girls’ were started at the beginning of September.

In order to make a lasting impression with the audience, the women’s line was kept secret, Zies said. Most of the models didn’t know what the designs were going to look like and only a few of Zies friends and organizers were permitted to see the designs.

“We kept it very secret,” Zies said. ” We tried to keep it as low-key as possible, because we wanted that day to be the time when everybody saw the clothes.”

Caitlin Kooienga, junior in psychology, a model for the show who had seen the clothes before when she did a photo shoot in them, was in the same position as the rest of the models.

“We were all very exited, because none of us knew what we would be wearing,” Kooienga said. “I was in love with everything I got to wear. I think everybody loved what they got to wear.”

Kooienga said the show was fun because of its relaxed environment. During the Pulse fashion show, an event put on by the ISU Textile and Clothing program in which Kooienga has participated, models are supposed to walk a certain way – something she said was not the case for Zies’ show.

“This show was a lot more fun,” Kooienga said. “We got to have a lot more fun with it. Because it wasn’t through Iowa State, we got to put our own style into it.”

The relaxed atmosphere and unique clothes really showed and made the show successful, said Kira White, junior in apparel merchandising, design and production. White said she and the audience got really hyped by it.

“I thought the show was really hot,” White said. “For being in Iowa, it was a really amazing show. There was a lot of talent. The routines were awesome, and everyone that was modeling had their own walk or own way of doing things.”

White said aside from the clothes, she liked the way the show involved the audience, which made them more and more exited as the show progressed.

The show may have been a hit, but the crowd really went wild for the choreographed dance by the dance group WHAT! Trifecta during the show, White said.

“I think overall the crowd loved the dance,” said Kenan Peters, member of WHAT! Trifecta. “I think the show was high energy from the beginning, and the dance just picked it up even more. Overall, it went over terrifically.”

Peters, junior in agricultural education, said the newly formed group felt the energy of the audience intensify after the dance.

Zies said he was glad they performed to make the show a unique experience, and hopes to do a show in the spring.

“I’m really grateful for all of the support that I’ve received, and I would like to thank everybody for coming out,” Zies said.

To check out Zies’ fashion line for yourself, go to RJZies.com.