As the anticipation builds for the Kent State annual fashion show, one of the names that stand out is Amelia Gardner. Scheduled from April 25 to 28, the event located in the Student Center Ballroom is expected to draw a crowd of hundreds of students, community members, and industry professionals.  

For Gardner, a junior co-producer of the Kent State fashion production team, this marks her first time taking on a management role overseeing 180 individuals, including designers, models, and faculty.  

“The biggest thing about this job is it’s extremely fast-paced and high-stress,” the fashion merchandising major said. 

In her role, Gardner is responsible for scheduling and communications with designers and production, alongside co-producer fashion merchandising major Brett Ashley Richter. With over 100 student volunteer models, 50 different designers and 10 faculty members oversight, Gardner’s organizational skills are put to the test daily. Her workload fluctuates from minor tasks to spending hours glued to her computer screen all day, she said. 

“Last night at midnight, I was emailing and sending schedules as we received notes from critiques … then this morning at 8 a.m., I was emailing the designers,” Gardner said. 

Gardner’s journey with the fashion show production team started three years ago, initially serving as a merchandise coordinator before taking up the role of lead merchandise coordinator.  

She opens up about her struggles as she navigates the demands of this leadership position.  

“I’m a super anxious person. I don’t like public speaking. I’m so socially awkward. I have a hard time with that,” stated Gardner. 

Despite her anxieties, she has learned to overcome these obstacles and find her voice. She speaks up for herself because of her confidence in her extreme knowledge about fashion show production. However, the task Gardner dreads most remains rejecting people. She expressed that everyone involved is so excited to contribute, therefore, it’s difficult to turn people away. 

The fashion show production team consists of two divisions: the merchandising team and the model team. All garments in the show go through a critique process and are chosen by an experienced panel of industry experts. This process is organized and facilitated by Gardner and her fellow co-producers.  

“Since it is the Kent State annual fashion show, which is like the biggest marketing point of the school, a lot of stuff is top-down,” Gardner said.  

Collaborating with faculty members poses its challenges when conflicting requests arise, but Gardner navigates these situations the best she can. The faculty are often involved in the minute details, but it remains a student-led production.  

As one of the top fashion schools in the nation, Kent State takes pride in its annual fashion show, recognizing its importance in maintaining the university’s reputation and continuing to further its fashion industry connections.  

In this semester alone, Gardner has already overseen production on two fashion shows. 

Reflecting upon her proudest moments, she recalled last year’s annual fashion show experience.  

“To actually see an entire semester-plus worth of work put together come out and look so amazing, it was just such a crazy experience. I can’t even put it into words,” Gardner said.  

Despite the inherent stress in her role, Gardner said she remains committed to the fashion show production team. Looking toward the future, she is excited to continue to climb the ranks of the fashion show production team and assist with hiring the production team positions next year.  

“It’s definitely impacting my thoughts on my career in the future. I love it so much, I’m crazy passionate about it,” Gardner said. 

For those interested in attending the Kent State annual fashion show and watching Gardner and her fellow co-producers’ work come to life, tickets are available for purchase on the Kent State website.  

Contact Riley Gaynor at [email protected].