Room 2094 in LeBaron Hall is filled with clothes in preparation for the annual textiles and clothing fashion show this weekend, but hidden away in its closets are boxes full of pictures and tapes from the show”s last 23 years.

‘In the past, the fashion show focused more on designs that fit the industry standards, but recently there has been more diversity and creativity in the fashion designs,’ says J.R. Campbell, associate professor of textiles and clothing.

The first fashion show was held in MacKay Hall in 1983. The stage in that room was used for several years until a catwalk was added to lengthen the stage. From viewing old videos, the first catwalk at Iowa State was used in 1988. In 1989, the catwalk grew from five feet to 20.

As the show has continued to grow over the years, the venues have gotten larger. The fashion show moved to Fisher Theater in 2000, and this year the fashion show is planned for Stephens Auditorium.

‘The popularity of the show is why it is moving into Stephens. The size and interest in the show have increased a lot,’ says Jean Parsons, associate professor of textiles and clothing.

Campbell says for a number of years the show had two equal parts: design and merchandising segments. Businesses in the area would allow students to create a merchandising segment by using their business” clothing.

Campbell arrived at Iowa State in 1998, the year the decision was made to change the fashion show to focus mostly on the design segment. The show was getting too large and long, Campbell says. In 1999, Parsons came to Iowa State. Campbell and Parsons” combined efforts have made many contributions to the fashion show.

‘It really changed when J.R. and I came,’ Parson says.

Campbell and Parsons have developed several new courses to educate their students in producing and marketing a fashion show. Campbell has also influenced the music selection to make it more fluid throughout the whole show.

In the early “80s, a piano was used for the music, but by 1988, pre-recorded tape cassettes were used. CDs and DJs have since become the main source of music.

In 2000 the show moved to Fisher Theater, visual commentary was added and information was projected onto screens. Previously, all commentary was live and done in front of the audience at a podium. Campbell says the students in 2000 were phenomenal, making the show more technologically advanced.

‘We add in more technology every year. For example, this year, we will be doing the announcing with computerized voices,’ Campbell says.

In addition, the fashion show has become more professional and helps the students build their portfolios, Parsons says.

‘It is much more professional now. Four professionals are chosen to jury the show, and we bring in industry professionals to critique student”s portfolios,’ she says. ‘A senior design class illustrates everything they make and they turn it into a portfolio. This is important because they can use the portfolio to get a job.’

Campbell says that it”s the students” show, and his role as an adviser for the fashion show has helped keep the focus on the students. The students are great visionaries for future fashion shows, Campbell says.

‘We are moving from being fashion and industry followers to becoming fashion leaders,’ Campbell says.

Campbell refers to the fashion show over the years as being a visual expression of the right to free speech.

‘We are expressing our thoughts in a most visual and public way. Sometimes it is pretty challenging for some of our Iowa audience. These students can do work just as well as any student in New York or Paris. Iowa and the world needs to know that,’ Campbell says.