Henry Wang, a 2011 graduate, is the Men’s Fabric Research and Development Coordinator for Vince, an apparel company based in Los Angeles. He was born in LA but grew up in Mason City, Iowa, just an hour north of Ames.  

During his college years, his involvement was through the roof. Involved in things like Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, Dub-H, Dance Marathon, The Fashion Show and was an Iowa State Cheerleader while taking 21 to 23 credits on top of that.

“For me, my philosophy is when you are in college, do everything. If you wanted to be a part of something, go and try it.  If you don’t like it, you don’t like it.  If you like it, awesome,” said Wang. “For me, I wanted to try The Fashion Show.”

Starting off in architecture at Iowa State, Wang decided to pursue other options after being recommended by Academic Adviser Christine Wise to pursue The Fashion Show.

“Ultimately, my dream was actually to be an Event Producer for fashion shows,” said Wang. “I would love to wear one of those headsets and run fashion shows — that is why I got involved in The Fashion Show.

Over the years with The Fashion Show, he was on the Design Committee, a Design Director and a Modeling Director his senior year.

“I think it definitely gave me more of an insight of what goes into a lot of the programs, especially for design,” said Wang. “Design was literally, especially for The Fashion Show, was the heart and soul because those are basically what we do.  People on the design committee and the directors carried that fashion show.”

Wang remembers the nerves involved during each year of the how, but was always prepared in case something were to go wrong.

“I always had a back-up fashion kit with me; I had a fanny pack with pre-threaded needles and scotch guard and hairspray and bobby pins and safety pins just in case something happened,” said Wang.

For his parents, their excitement for the show glows just as if they were a part of it.

“Of all people, my dad is the least fashionable person, who doesn’t really care about fashion, so having my mom and him come to the show was amazing,” said Wang.  “They were very excited that I helped put this show together, a team effort, but it was something that I did and they knew it was my little pride and joy.”