Fashion is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when people think of Iowa State University. But tonight, the school hosts its 30th annual fashion show. It’s one of the biggest student-run shows in the nation.
Faculty adviser Sarah Bennett says I.S.U.’s Apparel, Merchandising and Design program has about 450 undergrads and a 90 percent job placement rate. “We’ve had interns at Marc Jacobs, at BCBG, at Nanette Lepore and Todd Snyder,” Bennett says.
“So we really try to sort of take this program that’s in the middle of Iowa and give students a real international perspective of what the apparel industry is and where they can go with it.”
Bennett notes the I.S.U. fashion show has garnered a lot attention from the industry. “This fall, I went to Philadelphia for the International Textiles and Apparel Association annual conference, and went to a presentation on producing a student fashion show,” Bennett said. “They continually referred to Iowa State and how they were looking to Iowa State as one of the schools they kind of watch to see what’s Iowa State doing? How are they putting on their fashion show?”
This year’s fashion show will feature I.S.U. alum Todd Snyder, who was named one of GQ magazine’s best new menswear designers of 2012. The show is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Stephens Auditorium on the ISU campus in Ames. Bennett made her comments on Iowa Public Radio’s “Talk of Iowa” program.