The school of fashion partners with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio to produce a fashion charity event called ’Haute for the House’ Feb. 8.

The event is set to be held at the InterContinental Hotel Cleveland and involves Kent State fashion school students and alumni who will display their work while supporting their community by raising funds for a local charity. 

“We are part of a world and community as these students build up their resumes and experience these wonderful fashion show productions. What they’re really doing is good work that will benefit so many people,” said Hillary Stone, industry liaison and internship director of the fashion school.

Students from Kent’s fashion show production class have worked on curating looks, selecting models and going through fittings, as well as the planning and hosting of the event.

They have done this while simultaneously working on their classes and the annual fashion show they host every year. Senior fashion merchandising majors Mackenzie Karsten and Daniella Byrnes are co-directors for the Haute for the House event.

“Working on this event has really helped show me how to work in a fast-paced environment,” Karsten said. “I’ve been given a whole team I can delegate tasks to.”

Wendy Weng, a Kent State alumni who graduated in May 2023 and studied fashion design, has had pieces in New York Fashion Week and submitted some of her work for this event.

Weng described her collection as “the lifecycle of nature from the beginning to destruction, like forest fires and human destruction, to death and then back to rebirth.” This collection took her about three months to create, and she is most excited to see her work walk down the runway. It makes everything “worth it,” she said.

The event will have an open-bar and food stations along with opportunities to win prizes. Prizes include goodies from designer brands like Louis Vuitton and Prada. Raffle baskets valued at over $2,000 will also be auctioned. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio has offered a $1,000 scholarship for the student with the best design. There will also be a best-dressed guest award where the winner will walk down the runway and show off what they’ve put together. A VIP ticket is available to attendees.

“Guests that purchase a VIP ticket will be seated in the first or second row during the show and receive a free swag bag. All proceeds are going to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio,” Aristea Tzouloufis, chief development officer, said. 

The Haute for the House fashion show is set to be a night full of fashion, food and prizes, with all proceeds going to support a charity in our local community. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. at the InterContinental Hotel Cleveland, presented by Kent State’s school of fashion and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio.

Ryan Bowles is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].

Skylar Edington is a TV2 Reporter. Contact her at [email protected].