The lights in the Hilton Garden Inn ballroom dimmed, and the runway in the center of the room lit up, signaling the Thursday evening start of the Showcase of Excellence Runway Show. The show was part of the two-day, 11th annual Apparel, Textiles and Interior Design Student Symposium, sponsored by the College of Human Ecology.
“My favorite part (of modeling) is when the light shines on you at the end, and it is the last look (the audience) gets,” Schyler Slaven, sophomore in apparel and textile design, said.
Slaven modeled four designs, and she had one piece in the show.
“I would rather design than model. It is so fun seeing your hard work on stage,” Slaven said. “It’s a very proud moment.”
In addition to the runway show, the Showcase included a mounted exhibit; both were comprised of designs produced by Kansas high school and K-State students.
The showcase was organized by students in the Showcase Event Planning course, taught by Sherry Haar, professor in the apparel and textiles program. According to Haar, students had to apply and be accepted into the class.
“Our department takes a lot of pride in student professionalism,” Haar said.
The class, which totaled 15 students in the apparel, textiles and interior design majors, studied the history of presentations all the way back to the first fashion show. Then, they each had a respective job to coordinate for the show.
“From what I saw backstage, (the runway show) was very professional with taste and a high energy level,” Haar said. “Our goal was to put on an event that was not only educational, but also entertaining.”
Following the runway show, seven awards were given in response to the symposium theme, “ALWAYS MODERN: Using Design to Connect People, Planet and Profit.” Two faculty members blindly reviewed the pieces in both the mounted exhibits and the runway show.
1) Secondary School Awards:
1st – Kathryn Hutson; $350 check
2nd – Emma Evert; $250 gift card
3rd – Claudia Filinger; $150 gift card
2) Mounted Exhibit (Textile Design inspired by KNOLL)
1st – Arianna Levin; $350 check
2nd – Aaron Simon, Virginia Davis and McKenzie Tignor; $250 check
3rd – Kaylee Champagne; $150 check
3) Janet Rees Inspired:
1st – Brittany Westbrook; $350 check
2nd – Kathryn Zoschke; $250 check
3rd – Samantha White; $150 check
4) K-State Underclassmen:
1st – Emily Andrews; $350 check
2nd – Virginia Davis; $250 check
3rd – Brook Wallace; $150 check
5) K-State Upperclassmen and Graduate Students:
1st – Kelsie Doty; $500 value Missy Dress Form
2nd – Kelly Kell; $400 value Missy Dress Form
3rd – Elena Andrus; $150 value Missy Dress Form
6) Best of Show Mounted:
Aaron Simon; $500
7) Best of Show Runway:
Arianna Levin; $500
“It was a very exciting and inspiring show, and I’m very glad I could see the work that has been done by my classmates,” Natalie Bader, junior in apparel marketing, said.
The Symposium continues today with a networking luncheon, keynote speaker and other professional opportunities. The keynote speaker will be David Bright, KNOLL senior vice president of communications, and his lecture will highlight global business perspectives and textiles design and manufacturing, according to the K-State website.
