Annual Fashion Show highlights student work during Kent State Fashion week
Models of the 40th Annual Kent State Fashion Show presented by Dillard’s making their way off the runway on April 27, 2023.
The Kent State Annual Fashion Show is known for highlighting the work of fashion merchandising and fashion design students on the main stage, but behind the scenes over 180 students come together to put on the School of Fashion’s biggest event of the year.
The Annual Fashion Show is a three-day long event that takes place during the School of Fashion’s Fashion Week. The shows include The Opening Night Fashion Show, The Awards Fashion Show and The VIP Fashion Show. Ticket prices rise as the week progresses.
While The Annual Fashion Show is a three day event, the orchestration behind the scenes takes much more planning.
Each year, two seniors are selected to be senior co-producers. This year, senior fashion merchandising majors Mia Moumdjian and Nora Duchon were selected. Both seniors had behind-the-scenes experience with The Annual Fashion Show as they both served as junior co-producers last year.
“I got involved with the show last year,” said Duchon. “I’m pretty sure I told them I would take any spot on the team they wanted me to fill. I was accepted into the junior co-producer position and moved up to the senior co-producer position with Mia this year.”
The role of senior co-producer starts in the fall semester, and the time commitment increases as the semesters go on to lead a team of around 180 people in positions ranging from public relations coordinators to dressers.
“This has definitely impacted my schedule,” said Moumdjian. “As a full-time student, I have to juggle work, school, and my social life with the schedule of the show. It has been difficult considering there is a lot of added stress with graduation, but the Annual Fashion Show is the Fashion School’s biggest event of the year, making it all worth it.”
Duchon and Moumdjian were both awarded the Fashion Show Management Award sponsored by Gary Brahler and Knuth’s commending them for their dedication to the show.
This year’s show sponsor was Dilliard’s, which has been a long-term partner with the School of Fashion and was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. Dillard’s aided in sponsoring the Best in Show Award for $1,000 which was awarded to senior fashion design major Joseph Miglio. Six of Miglio’s designs were featured in the show, including oversized pieces in a range of muted colors.
Along with “Best in Show,” 13 other awards were given to designers for various categories including the Sustainable Design Award and the Niche Market Award.
Marissa Vasatka, a senior fashion design major, was awarded both the Construction Technique Award and the Special Occasion Award. Her collection meant more than just unique dresses, Vasatka said. It was a way for her to rewrite and portray a story through clothing.
“This collection was inspired by the femme fatale archetype portrayed throughout ‘Film Noir’,” said Vasatka. “In the movie, she is portrayed as this lethal, dangerous woman and it’s originated from a male’s gaze…so I wanted to rewrite her story through this collection and portray her as empowering and dangerous but in a positive light.”
Apparel was not the only thing highlighted at the show, as the 2023 Hall of Fame Inductee Omar Salam was awarded a plaque presented by President Todd Diacon. Salam was awarded a spot in the School of Fashion’s Hall of Fame for being the founder of SUKEINA, a global fashion house named after his late mother that focuses on making women look and feel special.
“Ten years ago when I started this, I wanted to tell stories. I wanted to tell stories about you, quite frankly, and as you look at me and see me, I want to let you know that I see you too,” Salam told the audience, “but I wanted to share with you that if you could stand were I am standing and I as I look at you, see what I am seeing, you would understand that you are inspiring in ways that you could not possibly understand.”
The show and awards concluded with the announcement of the start of the School of Fashion Alumni Chapter. Tiarra Reddick, a 2021 Kent State graduate, will serve as the first president alongside four other alumni who will be aiding in the success of the chapter. To find more about the chapter, visit its Facebook here.
Though the Annual Fashion Show ends its in-person viewings Saturday, the 2023 Fashion Show Film will premiere live on the School of Fashion’s YouTube account. To watch the show, visit the link here.
Sage Mason is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].