Students dazzle at ‘Project Runway’-style competition

When a model emerged from behind a projection screen Friday night wearing an emerald-green bell-shaped skirt and strapless top with transparent cutouts, the audience in the Union Ballroom gasped and erupted into applause before she could make it down the runway.

"I don't know what side of the tracks she came from in the land of Oz ... but it's pretty adorable," said Ty Woo, drag queen personality and judge for the third annual K-State Project Runway competition.

It was no ordinary garment; as part of the student designers' "Project Runway"-style challenge, the dress was constructed of one yard of fabric, a rain poncho and plastic folders.

The acclaimed garment belonged to Collin Campion, junior in apparel and textile design and winner of the competition. The competition was co-sponsored by the LGBT Resource Center and Union Program Council. Cash awards up to $150 were given away to each winner.

Judge and featured speaker Viktor Luna, third-place winner of season nine of "Project Runway," commended Campion on his garment.

"I love this one," Luna said. "I wrote, ‘Love. Love. Love.' It's stunning and so smart. The whole thing is well thought out and so beautiful. I could see this in the store. It's wearable already."

Although green was not Campion's first choice, the color became his muse.

"I was really inspired by the color I got — an emerald shade — so I wanted to work with that and make something structured and tailored with angular lines like a gemstone."

Second place went to Samantha Caresio, senior in apparel and textiles, for her blue gown, while Carolina Holden, senior in apparel and textiles, won third place for her purple dress.

"Any time I come to any fashion event at K-State, I'm surprised at the talent," said Jasmine Wilcoxson, junior in apparel and textiles. "Tonight just made me really excited because of my passion about fashion."

One week before the show, the contestants received their fabric — one yard to each competitor in a color determined by a button drawing. Students were required to incorporate the fabric, as well as non-fabric materials of the same color.

The judges critiqued technical quality and design, creativity, originality, construction, functionality and wearability, as well as how the garment met the challenge.

Marla Day, apparel and textiles instructor and senior curator for the Historic Costume and Textile Museum, said as a judge, she wanted to see designers who could overcome obstacles through innovation.

"It teaches them something about themselves because right now, working in the classroom, they have sometimes several weeks to somehow solve a problem ... and they haven't had that luxury," Day said.

Cheryl Yacenda, junior in apparel and textiles, grew from the experience.

"I've learned that this is really something that I do love to do and something I want to do for the rest of my life," Yacenda said. "When you get put in those tough situations, you shouldn't give up, because you learn so much."

All of the garments from the event will be on display in Hoffman Lounge in Justin Hall from the last week of February through March.

Luna exposed the designers to the industry with constructive criticism and a presentation on his childhood, his career and his "Project Runway" experience.

"Every year we bring in a diverse speaker who was on ‘Project Runway,'" said Paige Strecker, sophomore in elementary education and UPC arts committee co-chair. "We have the LGBT Resource Center co-sponsoring because Viktor — who we brought — is gay. I personally was really impressed with him on the show. He came off on the show as a really cool, down-to-earth guy. I thought he would appeal to K-State students."

Luna commanded the audience's attention when he stepped on stage wearing a Jeremy Scott black leather jacket with angel wings affixed to the back, a double-breasted sweater, plaid bow-tie, charcoal jeans and metallic sapphire oxfords.

"LGBT has always been very oppressed in the past ... and we're still fighting for our rights," Luna said, before the show. "Fashion is really a big, giant gateway of expression. If I wore this jacket before, people would probably look at me and turn me down and tear me a part, but I think people in society are moving to a more positive way where everybody looks at fashion as an interesting way of expressing yourself."

Luna's ascent in the fashion world was not an easy road. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Luna's father immigrated the family to Los Angeles in search of a better life. Luna learned the craft from his mother, a seamstress, and later left for New York City with $300 in his pocket. He jokingly said that $300 might have bought a piece of gum. He recalled spending the night in Central Park and working at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

"I'm glad they picked Viktor," said Brandon Haddock, LGBT Resource Center coordinator. "He is one of those guys other people can relate to. He's a positive role model living his dreams. That shows a lot of our students that hey, they are capable of doing the same thing."

Luna spoke of the show's celebrities, now his friends. He called Tim Gunn a "ray of light," Heidi Klum a "walking weapon" with her disarming smile and Michael Kors, an "uncle that makes everybody laugh."

Luna said he tries to set an example by remaining true to himself and inspiring others to do the same.

"No. 1, I'm gay and I don't let anything stop me from being proud and being out," Luna said. "We're all here — yes, we're designers, we're architects, we're dentists, everything — but we're ultimately human beings and we want to create value to our own kind."

Haddock said he hoped the event would bring together backgrounds as diverse as the rainbow of colors that went down the runway.

"It portrays a positive image for our community," Haddock said. "That's just one of the things we can provide them so they feel like they have something in common with on campus. It helps to strengthen the diversity of what our campus population is like."