Table of contents:

Part 1: Thoughts from members before the show

Part 2: Guest designer Abasi Rosborough

Part 3: On the runway

Part 4: Awards and recognition

Part 5: Thoughts from members after the show

Thoughts from members before the show

Students of many majors worked tirelessly to ensure that the 2017 Fashion Show would run seamlessly from curtain open to curtain close. Opening day, backstage of Stephens Auditorium is filled with anticipation from those who committed most of this school year to preparing for the show.

Everyone from stage tech to modeling directors have pre-show duties to make sure the entire show runs as smoothly as possible.

“I’m actually not nervous at all,” said Ashlynn Boerhave, fashion show design committee member and senior in apparel merchandising and design. “We have had several dress rehearsals before today and they have all gone very smoothly. So we’re just kind of excited in anticipation for how it will go.”

When asking if they were nervous, the modeling directors shouted, “Yes,” in unison.

“There’s lot of moving parts and a lot of quick-changes,” said Katie Hamilton, senior in apparel merchandising and design.

“We’ve got to work like a well oiled machine,” added Grace Rosson, sophomore in apparel merchandising and design.

Since the beginning of February, models have been working to perfect their walk for the show. Many of the models walk several times, requiring them to learn different choreography and make nerve-wracking quick changes during the the show.

“I’m a little nervous,” said Alli Levis, model and sophomore in apparel merchandising and design. “I’m excited just to go out there and show off the garments that the students have been working so hard on all year.”

Guest designer Abasi Rosborough

“As a modeling director, I stand by the stage,” said Sasha Shpak, senior in apparel merchandising and design. “I’m excited to hear the audience’s reaction to the guest designer and the garments that are really awesome.”

The guest designer portion of the show featured Abasi Rosborough, fashion designers from New York City, invoked feeling of intense power and strength as models walked to the beat of drums. Based off of the 2017 election and the protests that took place, the theme of the line was geared toward the strength of protesters and bringing the people together as the models were of every race and ethnicity.

“Watching this election go down thinking ‘How is this election for the best amongst all of our people to represent us? It’s so negative. It’s so fractured,’” said Greg Rosborough of Abasi Rosborough, “We decided to come up with something that’s about unity but also protecting the protesters.”

Devaughn Jones was one of the models who walked for the guest designer.

“It was crazy I could tell you that. I’m not saying I felt more comfortable doing their [Abasi Rosborough] line, but it felt like the design related to me. I just got out there and I thought I did good job. The drums got people hyped, they got me hyped. I was out there just dancing.”

 On the runway

With “Altered Aspects” being the theme for the 2017 show, the stage was a mix of white geometrical shapes hanging from the ceiling, transparent back drops for models to walk behind for extra crowd anticipation and neon lighting illuminating the stage backdrops. The music was that of a futuristic vibe that complemented the bold model walk choreography and the alternative aesthetic of “Altered Aspects.”

A wave of flowing patterns illuminated the runway, an in-sync look throughout the show.  Looks like ‘Reclaim the Earth’ by Alex Peters, ‘Demon of Bald Mountain’ by Emily Koppang and ‘Adagio’ by Kara Nicole Sander captured this look.

Exotic, neon colors filled the stage throughout the night, matching The Fashion Show’s aspiring theme ‘Altered Aspects’. Splatter of paint here, patches and pockets there and glitter to top it all off. Designs such as Joris Montijo’s ‘Don’t Be Fooled by the Sequins That I Got’, Cassidy Glynn’s ‘Glitch // Accidental Art’ and Lea Dochterman’s ‘Emotions of the Heart’ took on the theme’s inspiration.

Awards and recognition

The Fashion Show ended with a recap of all of the models and garments by designers and recognition to everyone who made the 2017 fashion show possible. The results by this year’s judges was awarded to designers at this time, as well as awarding scholarships to designers and producers alike.

Ana Hays McCracken Scholarship

This is a producer-based scholarship awards the producers for all of their hard work and commitment to The Fashion Show.  This is the first year this scholarship is being awarded to Maggie Anderson, Emilee Meyer, Hannah Nation and Alexandra Johnson. Ana Hays McCracken made the biggest endowment to date of $100,000 for this scholarship.

Behind-The-Scenes Trendsetter Scholarship: Sophia Lou

This is the first year The Fashion Show is offering an incoming-AMD student this scholarship.

Todd Snyder Scholarship and Internship: Lea Dochterman

Todd Snyder is 1992 Iowa State AMD alum who has found great success in the fashion industry in New York.  In memory of Professor Ruth Glock, this $5,000 scholarship recognizes the positive influence the late Glock had with students and internships during her many years of teaching and leadership, according to The Fashion Show program. For the internship, Dochterman will be spending her summer in New York City being mentored by Snyder and several former Iowa State AMD interns.

Merchandising Scholarship: Maggie Anderson

This $1,000 merchandising scholarship allows a merchandising student to stand out and be recognized among their AMD peers and others studying design.  According to The Fashion Show program, students interested in earning the scholarship must complete a case study project related to fashion merchandising.  This year, The Fashion Show partnered with Abercrombie & Fitch to produce this case study.

Best In Show

BECOMING by Sarah Mader

Activewear/Swimwear/Intimates

CEASELESS by Caroline Bailey

Children’s Wear

GWENDOLYN by Emily Clark

Collection

BECOMING by Sarah Mader

Fashion Illustration

UBUNTU by Emily Clark 

Men’s Wear

MIDCENTURY by Anna Lickliter

Fiber Art/Sustainability

VOLCANIC by Jaimie Towle

Portfolio

MIDCENTURY by Anna Lickliter

Ready-To-Wear – Fall/Winter

NOT YOUR ORDINARY BRIEFCASE by Lydia Loya

Ready-To-Wear – Spring/Summer

BLOSSOMED by Caitlyn Baagoe

Special Occasion – Cocktail

SOLIDIFIED MOTION by Emily Clark

Special Occasion – Evening

PRETTY IN GOLD by Basilia Koster

Wearable Art/Costuming/Experimental

EMOTIONS OF THE HEART by Lea Dochterman, Alex Peters and Joris Montijo

Thoughts from members after the show

Backstage after the show, faces were filled with joy and relief.

“I think it went really well,” said model Madeleine Bretey. “We practiced really hard and it was really hard to visualize what it was going to be like until we got to practice on stage and then we hit it really hard.”

The Altered Aspects design was the responsibility of the design committee.

“Set did a really great job on getting everything ready on the stage and it looked phenomenal. Tech worked so hard to get all the music and lights worked out. It all came together so smoothly,” said design committee’s Ashlynn Boerhave. “I think this went above the crowd’s expectations that they had. Every year we put on such a phenomenal show but this year we’ve had so many great new improvements and innovative ideas for this show.”