A beloved tradition for this world-ranked fashion program, the Stephens College student designer fashion show is a chance for young creatives to showcase their best work—and for audience members to get a sneak peek at what’s new and what’s next.

Photo courtesy of Stephens College

By Caroline Dohack

To say they’ve spent the year on pins and needles—literally, in some cases—would be an understatement, but the moment they’ve all been waiting for is almost here.  

The Stephens College annual student designer fashion show, called The Collections, will be held Saturday, April 13, in Windsor Auditorium on the Stephens campus in Columbia, Missouri. 

A beloved tradition for this world-ranked fashion program—CEO World Magazine ranked Stephens 14th in the world and 4th in the U.S. for fashion programs, and the program has received other accolades from the Business of Fashion, London and the Council of Fashion Designers of America—the annual student designer fashion show is a chance for young creatives to showcase their finest work and for audience members to get a sneak peek at what’s new and what’s next.

To mark the milestone of its 80th annual show, the fashion program built this year’s show around the theme “Construct.” It’s a play on words meant to convey both the physicality of a garment as well as the symbolic meanings of the clothes we wear. 

“The fashion show is a meaningful way for all fashion students to celebrate our accomplishments, how far we’ve come, and where we are going,” says Bethany Robertson, a senior Fashion Design and Product Development major from Olathe, Kansas. Robertson also serves as co-chair of the fashion show publicity committee. “Whether it be as a designer, model, or team member of the fashion show class, every fashion student has an important role to play in the show.”

During their time at Stephens, freshman, sophomore, and junior fashion design students hone such skills as patternmaking, draping, contemporary, and sportswear by designing and sewing a number of wearable garments.

The senior fashion design students, meanwhile, spend their final academic year conceptualizing and creating cohesive collections.

To be included in the show, each garment is modeled before a Jury of Selection, a panel of industry experts who assess it on such merits as market viability, concept, and quality of construction. Only the best of the best make the cut. 

This year there are four senior designers.

“Their creativity is flowing throughout the show as their collections come to life on the runway,” says Lillian Fisher, a junior Fashion Communication major from Branson, Missouri, who also serves as co-chair of the fashion show publicity committee. “One of the beauties of being a senior designer is the opportunity to apply their creativity to industry standards across fields such as designing, marketing, and communicating their collections.”

Robertson, whom we met earlier, is hyper-focused on sustainability. She uses upcycled fabrics and low-impact fibers in her collection and also collaborated with her brother, a horticulture student at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas, to source plant-based ingredients to make natural dyes. 

Hannah Hicks of Lawrence, Kansas, is driven by the body positivity movement. Her collection features a range of party looks in a range of sizes meant to celebrate bodily diversity.

Juliet Forehand of Flower Mound, Texas, took inspiration from her nightmare disorder to create a darkly dreamy collection that highlights her talent for needlework and denim techniques.

Bridal collections are always a show stopper, and Kayla Homeier of Imperial, Missouri, will present a collection with ethereal gowns and unexpected suiting.

“It’s very gratifying to see the audience become inspired by our hard work,” Robertson says. “It’s a wonderful moment of community, where the Stephens College and surrounding communities come together to celebrate the accomplishments of the next generation of fashion professionals.”

Featured photo courtesy of Stephens College.

For hundreds more events, visit Missouri Life’s Event Calendar.