Nicole Sallis’ life was changed forever in just one day.

Last year on July 28, Sallis launched her clothing line – Elocin – in Waterloo during her first fashion show.

“I was very, very nervous at the show,” said Sallis, sophomore in apparel merchandising, design and production. “I had a lot on the line.”

But the clothing was a hit, and since then Sallis has been running her own clothing line and going to school full time.

“Running a clothing line is a full-time job,” she said. “I am also a student, and that is also a full-time job.”

Sallis has also met with many sales representatives from different clothing stores since her first show.

“At the shows, I see what the representatives are looking for in a clothing line, then I try to provide that in my own line,” she said.

Elocin is targeted to women ages 18 to 30, and Sallis said the line includes versatile and stylish clothing for formal, business, casual and sportswear settings.

“The clothes in my line are stylish and attention-getting clothes,” she said. “I want the women who wear my clothes to be able to wear them to work and then still be able go out after work by simply taking off a suit jacket.”

Weekends are devoted to conducting fashion shows, for which Sallis hand picks her models.

Kisha Lomas, senior in apparel, merchandising, design and production, is one of Sallis’ models.

“Most runway clothing is hard to wear in everyday life,” Lomas said. “That’s what is unique about Sallis’ line, you can easily wear and incorporate her runway clothing into your wardrobe.”

Sallis has also provided entertainment with her fashion shows, such as the National Society of Black Engineers’ Conference last October.

“I hope to have another fashion show in Ames before the semester is over,” she said.

Elocin is not available in stores yet, but Sallis said she hopes to have the line available in Midwest stores during the coming year.

“Right now I am testing the market to see what types of stores I want my clothing line to be in,” she said.