The 2025 Annual Fashion Show held by Kent State University’s School of Fashion took place April 24-26. Stunning looks featuring streetwear, eveningwear and ready-to-wear collections walked down the runway in Kent State’s new Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship building, providing a high-quality experience you did not want to miss. From delicious hors d’oeuvres to iconic guests including Donald J. Pliner, this year’s Annual Fashion Show had 42 talented designers with 171 eye-catching looks, creating an unforgettable experience. 

I had never envisioned myself  modeling in any fashion shows before coming to Kent State University to study fashion. This changed once I experienced other fashion show production opportunities through Kent State. This past January, I was a dresser for the CAFARO Bridal Extravaganza & Prom fashion show, working alongside my best friend, Victoria Kimmich. We watched our fellow classmates model in the show, and we thought to ourselves, “Maybe we should model in a show sometime.” 

A month later, Victoria and I decided to go to the model call for the Annual Fashion Show. We were shocked by how many people were there, and it was easy to feel intimidated. At the model call, we check-in, receive our numbers, take some quick headshots and go show the judges our walk. We truly did not expect to be models for the show because this was one of the first model calls we had ever attended. Victoria and I love to say, “Everything happens for a reason,” and we held on to that through this entire process. Later on, I receive a text from Victoria telling me to look at my email. I am so nervous, but once I read “Congratulations!” I actually screamed. This feeling  intensified when Victoria and I found out that we would enjoy this experience together. 

Being a model for the Annual Fashion Show was amazing and tiring at the same time. I modeled for B.A. fashion student Jamie Swanson, and I loved my look. It was unique and edgy, and as funny as it sounds, people said that I looked like a dinosaur. Swanson explained that she made this look while she was studying abroad in Paris. She and the other designers in the show are so talented, and I am sure their careers will flourish after their time at Kent State. 

Even though the Annual Fashion Show was time consuming, all the effort definitely paid off. I would not want to be anywhere else while attending media day shoots and rehearsals beforehand leading up to the success of all shows. On April 24, 2025, the first shows included the Matinee Show for potential Kent State Fashion students along with the KSU Student Show,  which was the Opening Night Show. Following these shows were the Awards Show and the Hall of Fame Gala Show on the 25th and 26th. America’s iconic and celebrated shoe designer, Donald J. Pliner, was inducted into the School of Fashion’s Hall of Fame. As Pliner visited campus, he spoke with students throughout Fashion Week and exclaimed that he is “honored and awestruck to be inducted into the Kent State University School of Fashion Hall of Fame.” 

Award Recipients:

• Best in Show sponsored by Anonymous: Caroline Hill, B.F.A. Collection
• Students Choice Award sponsored by Stephanie Smith: Blaire McKnight, B.F.A. Collection
• Celebration Award sponsored by Linda L. McDonald, Ph.D.: Gabrielle Wheeler, B.F.A. Collection
• Celebration Award sponsored by Linda L. McDonald, Ph.D.: Shana Mendelsohn, B.F.A. Collection
• Construction Technique Award sponsored by Stephanie Smith: Jamie Swanson, B.A. Collection
• Fashion Show Management Award sponsored by Katy and Gary Brahler and Knuth’s: Senior Co-Producers – Amelia Gardner and Brett Ashley Richter
• Innovation Award sponsored by Anonymous: Reagan Holtzman, B.F.A. Collection
• Knitwear Award sponsored by Mirta Gonzalez Prior and Tom Prior: Myles Parent, B.F.A. Collection
• Market Ready Award sponsored by Janet and David Dix: Mandalyn Maglione, B.F.A. Collection
• Nice Market Award sponsored by Janet and David Dix: Mikhail Shakov, B.F.A. Collection
• Special Occasions Award sponsored by Regina Eisenberg: Emma Cook, B.A. Collection
• Sustainable Design Award sponsored by Anonymous: Rachel Stauffer, B.F.A. Collection
• Techstyle Lab Award sponsored by Ken Robinson: Allison Atkins, B.F.A. Collection
• Universal Design Award sponsored by Anonymous: Branch Zimmerman, B.F.A. Collection
• CAFARO Award sponsored by Anonymous: 1st place – Blaire McKnight, B.F.A. Collection;  2nd place – Kaitlyn Graham, B.A. Collection

The shows would have never been as successful without all the hard-working crew. The producers, coordinators, designers, models and many more people involved helped make the vision of “Runway Ready” for the 2025 Annual Fashion Show come to life. To find more information on individuals involved, you can read the 2025 Annual Fashion Show digital program.

Senior Co-Producers, Brett Ashley Richter and Amelia Gardner had the pleasure of being a part of this year’s Annual Fashion Show. “This has been our favorite thing we have ever done while being at Kent State.” Having been a part of the Annual Fashion Show since they were freshman, their dreams of becoming Senior co-producers came true. To students who want to become more involved in fashion show production, Richter and Gardner’s best advice is to “reach out and apply!” It can be daunting to apply for a big event, the Annual Fashion Show, but you will never know if you do not try. Richter describes the Annual Fashion Show as “a beautiful celebration of what Kent State School of Fashion can do and what Kent students are capable of, and also solidifying our spot as one of the top fashion schools in the country.” After college, Gardner plans on moving to New York with a career in production or product development with a focus on sustainability, and Richter also wants to focus on production or work closely with textiles. 

The 2025 Annual Fashion Show is one of the best experiences I have had so far at Kent State. I cannot wait to experience it all again next year, and I am grateful for this opportunity to make new connections and be a part of something so special to the School of Fashion at Kent State. 

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Hi! I’m Kayla Friedman, A Magazine’s editor-in-chief. My staff and I are committed to bringing you the most important and entertaining news from the realms of fashion, beauty and culture. We are full-time students and hard-working journalists. While we get support from the student media fee and earned revenue such as advertising, both of those continue to decline. Your generous gift of any amount will help enhance our student experience as we grow into working professionals. Please go here to donate to A Magazine.