The African American Textile Society (AATS) will hold it’s 16th annual Fashion Exposé at 7 p.m. this Monday, April 8 in the Atrium at the College of Textiles on Centennial Campus. 

Part of Pan Afrikan Week, the Fashion Exposé is an annual fashion design competition organized entirely by N.C. State students. According to the fashion show’s website, Fashion Exposé was the first fashion show ever organized on N.C. State’s campus. 

Molly Renaud, a sophomore in textile engineering and Fashion Exposé’s public relations coordinator, believes the event acts as a tool for success for textile students. 

“The Fashion Exposé grants emerging student designers tons of opportunities,” Renaud said. “They really get the chance to showcase their designs in a competitive and inspiring environment.” 

According to Renaud, Fashion Exposé aims to invigorate student designers by holding an event that highlights unique design styles of each designer.

“Aside from the obvious, the show gives students the chance to try their talents on the public,” Renaud said.

The show benefits more than just the selected designers as the photographers, videographers, models and production crew are made up of student volunteers as well. 

Designers are selected based upon an application process in which the applicants submit samples of work. 

“We get applications from students all over the University,” Renaud said. “Not all our designers are from the College of Textiles and some aren’t even from N.C. State. We’ve got a couple from outside — from Meredith and North Carolina Central University.”

The show culminates with a competition for money prizes. Different categories for entry allow for winners at each level. The first level is exhibit, which is aimed at designers who have the basic skills needed to construct a garment but not a full collection. First prize at this level is awarded $100. The second level is novice, which is aimed at designers seeking exposure in showcasing their work. The experience of the typical novice designer will be limited in garment design and creation. Most novice designers have around one to two years of experience. First prize for the novice level is $250.

The final level, intermediate, is geared more toward designers who have several years of experience in creating and designing garments at higher levels and are able to produce a cohesive line. This level is most commonly made up of juniors, seniors and graduate students. Second prize for this level is $300 and first prize is $500.

To Renaud, the most important aspect of Fashion Exposé comes directly from the AATS’ mission statement that identifies its core values as innovation and vitality.

“We really try to produce a show that brings aesthetic life to the collection of each designer,” Renaud said. “We believe that a designer’s work must be given experiences that allow it to be seen by others.”

According to Renaud, the student-run show not only showcases fashion, but also the talents of each student involved in the creative process. 

“We really want to empower student designers and producers and bring everyone into the forefront,” Renaud said. “Giving students these chances increases the frequency of success in their respective fields.”