America’s popular reality television series, “Project Runway,” focuses on fashion, design, extreme competition, time constraints and a variety of themes. College of Design and College of Textiles students featured in Art to Wear are concentrating on the same elements in a professional fashion show that was founded in 2002. The event hosts about 3,000 attendants annually and will be held Wed., April 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Reynolds Coliseum.

Vita Plume, associate professor of art and design in the College of Design, helped create the first show eight years ago. The event was originally held in the Court of North Carolina with about 100 people in attendance.

Art to Wear was inspired by a student in the College of Design. During an exam critique, the student gave a fashion show to the class of the clothing line she produced. Plume then had the idea to have a real fashion show outside of the classroom.

“The first year we were able to pull together a show for about $100,” Plume said. “We made invitations, a parent set up a light and sound system, and we had a fashion show. It was a huge success and has been growing ever since.”

In January 36 students, who had begun designing pieces during the fall semester, presented their collection in front of a panel of jurors. Designers presented two items that were going to be featured in the show as well as a concept for the line they were going to produce. The jurors used a point system to choose the twelve designers who will be featured in this year’s show.

Art to Wear is a professional fashion show and costs about $27,000 to put on. In order to have enough money to host the event, students sell T-shirts, scarves, accessories and gift certificates from local restaurants.

“This year there was an Ebay auction,” said Cynthia Istook, faculty adviser and associate professor of textile and apparel technology and management. “Designers created accessories that complemented their collections and sold them online.”

Proceeds from the fundraising event go toward benefitting the show and supporting the ongoing work of student designers.

“We have to raise enough money to cover the cost of this year’s show, but we also want to leave money for next year’s students,” Laura Maruzzella, senior in art and design, said. “Renting space is very expensive.”

Every year the set changes with the venue. The runway for this year’s event will be in the shape of an asymmetrical X and have two entryways for the models. The unique design of the runway will allow for the models to get as close to the audience as possible. The backdrop will be a live video feed of the runway.

Each designer gets to choose his or her own music, and some use other elements, such as fog. The lighting, however, is set.

“Light can significantly impact the color of a piece of clothing,” Istook said. “The lighting remains the same during the entire show so that the look of the designs appears the same as it does in person.”

The clothing featured in the show will display the artistic creativity of each designer.

“My designs are crazy. They are different and fun,” Maruzzella said. “Most of my pieces coil and wrap around the body.”

Every designer chooses the theme for the clothing and there is no joint, unified theme for the entire show.

“I have at least 18 ready-to-wear pieces that are going to be featured in the show,” Chase Kennedy, junior in fashion and textile management, said. “My line is made up of men’s suits. The theme of my line is psychotic and I want the audience to see how intense and deep my work is.”

Half an hour prior to the show, classes in the College of Textiles and the College of Design will reveal their best work that was created as a class.

“The pre-show encourages our younger students to participate in the event,” Istook said. “It takes more than 12 designers to produce a show of this magnitude and we want all of our students to be able to share their creative inspiration with the world.”

Special guests at the show will include the deans of the College of Textiles and the College of Design as well as William Ivey Long, a famous Broadway costume designer who will serve as one of the judges.

This year, three contests will take place at the event – a Juror’s Award, Audience Award and People’s Choice Award. The winner of the Juror’s Award will receive a cash prize donated by Long. The audience will vote on the Audience Award – students can purchase a ballot for $1 at the show and cast their vote for their favorite designer. Students can cast their vote for best collection online at The News and Observer picture gallery. The Audience Award and the People’s Choice Award will be announced in The News and Observer the following week.

The professionalism of the show raises the bar for students and makes the event a fun and educational experience.

“The students learn so much from Art to Wear, and the skills they learn stay with them after the show. They learn about fundraising, publicity, promotion, organization and a great deal of responsibility,” Plume said. “This show would not be possible without the help of our faculty, administration and students. Their support helps make this such a wonderful event.”