Designers and visitors at the textiles and clothing department’s annual showcase will see more than a handful of student designs this year.

“Showcase 2003: Shear Inspiration” will feature about 40 student designs designed Thursday in the Lebaron Hall Lounge.

Erin Schulte, senior in apparel merchandising, design and production, says the showcase is an opportunity to be judged and critiqued by other students and professionals.

“I get the benefit of hearing the feedback and reactions to my designs,” Schulte says.

Amanda Swenson, senior in apparel merchandising, design and production and co-director of the event, says the showcase has been going on for several years. A committee of selected textiles and clothing students sponsors the department’s fall event.

“The showcase is a great way to show the rest of the campus what we have been working on,” Swenson says. “[It’s] great for the designer’s resume and portfolio.”

The showcase is held in the fall to lead up to the department’s fashion show in the spring, says Joanna Serra, advertising director for the committee. The showcase is meant to give viewers a sneak peek at the student designers’ complete fashion lines; spring and fall trends included.

“It’s an opportunity to build awareness of the designs we are working on,” says Serra, junior in apparel merchandising, design and production. Designers usually submit one piece in the fall showcase and reveal their entire line at the spring fashion show.

Approximately 80 designs were submitted last week to be judged, Swenson says. The committee of students selected the panel of jurors, who are all ISU textiles and clothing alumni.

The designs were judged on creativity, quality of work and difficulty of design.

Students were able to submit designs in six different categories, Swenson says. Categories included apparel, wearable art and fashion illustration. The top three awards for each category will be presented at the showcase.

Visitors will have a chance to vote for their favorite designs in the People’s Choice Award.

“Wearable art is usually people’s favorite to submit and view,” Swenson says.

Paper, metal chains and beads are just a few of the materials used in the wearable art category this year, she says.

Three wearable art designs of Schulte’s were selected to be in the showcase. Her selected entries include an entire outfit made out of upholstery fabric. It is one of three different designs in her fall line. Her complete line will be featured in the spring fashion show.

Schulte also submitted a picnic-themed outfit, complete with ant-adorned shoes. Another design she submitted is a digitally printed skirt and tube top ensemble portraying the molecular biology building and the Memorial Union. The design is reversible, and the photos of the buildings were distorted to look like they are being viewed through a broken window.

“My inspiration for the digital printed garment came after I took the photographs,” she says.

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What: “Showcase 2003: Shear Inspiration”

Where: LeBaron Hall Lounge

When: 11 a.m. — 5 p.m.,

Thursday

Cost: Free