ISU alumna Sarah Johnson finds it is as hard to find a job in the fashion industry in Los Angeles as it is to come across a fashion show in Ames. Luckily, she has overcome both challenges.

“I have a stronger creative side. I’ve always thought outside of the box,” Johnson says. “Most people usually want the 9 to 5. I can’t settle for that. I was looking for the ultimate job.”

Johnson moved to Los Angeles more than a year ago and found her ultimate job while working for a fashion stylist.

Coming from Iowa, Johnson expected to be more impressed with the shops in Los Angeles, but says she didn’t find what she was looking for.

While shopping for clothes for a “D-List” celebrity, Johnson came across JL Marks, a recently opened boutique that carries one-of-a-kind items and specializes in work from local designers and artists. After chatting with the store’s owner and designer, Johnson was offered a job.

“It’s so hard to find a job in Los Angeles. I am so incredibly fortunate. I have learned so much in a year,” she says.

Along with learning about the production end of the business, Johnson began to pool her own ideas into the process.

She now has her own line of clothing, Rock N Reconstruct. She creates styles and clothing mainly for women ages 14 to 30, which, according to Johnson, translates to ages 16 to 24 for Iowans and Los Angeles-area bands Johnson also designs for.

The line is made solely from recycled vintage clothing, with Johnson “thrifting” for the perfect pieces.

She says she finds the best clothing back here in Iowa, not in L.A.

“I’ve trained my mom and now she’s my buyer. She’ll go out three to four times a week – she loves to see how I use the pieces. I call her my ‘treasure hunter,” Johnson says.

Johnson’s line, apart from being sold in Los Angeles, is also available at SMASH in the East Village of Des Moines.

SMASH owner Mike Draper and Johnson have combined forces for the Bringing Hollywood Home Fashion Show Extravaganza at the Bali Satay House, 2424 Lincoln Way, on Saturday.

The show will feature the Rock N Reconstruct line and pieces from SMASH.

The models were found through Johnson’s posts on MySpace and craigslist.

“It gives people a chance to see what the business is like. I don’t care if they are skinny and beautiful,” Johnson says of the upcoming show and her models.

“She wants us to have fun with the clothes – I am very excited,” says Amy Hein, freshman in psychology and model for the show. Hein says she heard about the opportunity through a friend.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do, but it’s not the most normal career path. It just makes you feel girlie,” she says.

Johnson says the models will also be having their hair and makeup professionally done.

“Studio X Hair Salon, [2522 Lincoln Way], specializes in just really, really cool hair. [The models] will have 1950s pinups, which is perfect for the line,” she says.

Johnson says that two years ago she would never have pictured herself in this position. Saturday’s show will be the first show featuring her Rock N Reconstruct line and she says she’s proud to have it happen in Iowa.

She says she plans to continue working in fashion design, and hopes she will have what it takes to turn it into a long-term career.

No matter what happens, Johnson is counting her blessings.

“I lived in Iowa. I remember what it was like to not have these opportunities,” she says.