Last Friday, Kent State’s Creator Collective showed off their bold, music inspired looks on a self-made student runway at Rockwell Hall’s fashion museum.  

Rock, EDM, country, jazz and many more music genres were echoed not only off the walls of the museum but in the many looks carefully crafted by student designers. 

Twelve different designs and styles were worn by models, all of which were hand-made by student creators. For some, this was their first-ever show modeling, and for others, their first experience designing for a runway. 

“I’ve been watching Project Runway since I was three,” Ella Holzhei, a freshman fashion merchandising major, said. “I saw the opportunity to style a runway show and I was like, ‘I’ve always dreamed of doing that.’”

Holzhei was responsible for styling two pieces, one for herself and another for her model JaKari Singleton, the vice president of the Creator Collective and a sophomore marketing major. 

“I was quite nervous about walking even though I’ve walked for a show before, but Ella did a really good job of calming me down,” Singleton said. “It was my first time walking to gothic rock, and I just needed to embrace the music.”

Holzhei and Singleton treaded down the runway to “Medusa” by Clan of Xymox, a 1980’s dark gothic rock song with a brooding synthesizer and chilling guitar. Piercingly dark and draped outfits pulled together by Holzhei matched with the song, which she describes as perfect for swishing her trench coat to.

“I wanted to really give the vibe that you’re in a dark underground club and you’re going to have fun, but it’s still a little mysterious,” Holzhei said. “It’s not a scary song; there’s no screaming or anything like that, it’s very chill, kind of makes you feel like you’re in a supervillain movie.”

‘80s punk and glam rock were also displayed, with three different looks and models to show off the inspired genres. Maddie Lancaster, designer of the three looks and a junior fashion design major, was deeply influenced by artists such as KISS, David Bowie and Joan Jett. KISS’ “Made For Lovin’ You” played as the models made their way down the runway. 

The first outfit featured a sparkly open-chested vest and plaid pants. 

“I tried to combine the essence of Bowie and KISS into one,” Lancaster said. 

The second, worn by Raven Mogilevsky, junior fashion design major, featured tons of red and black accents, belts and buckles, metal jewelry and hints of plaid. Her makeup, akin to Paul Stanley’s “Star Child,” really reflected KISS’ inspiration on the look.

“I wanted to capture femininity and masculinity into each look since glam rock was about opening conversations about gender and androgyny,” Lancaster said.

The third, worn by Megan Barr, a junior fashion design major, captured the essence of Joan Jett through her makeup and hair style. A black top with a droopy middle fabric hung over the model’s plaid skirt, lace extending its length.

“My models were a big inspiration to me, the three of them love rock music,” Lancaster said. “Raven would show up to dress rehearsals in KISS shirts, and Megan really helped me decide which way I wanted to encapsulate ‘80s glam rock.”

One of the two EDM looks were also inspired by artists within the genre. Sophomore fashion design major Chandler Newman’s look was deeply influenced by electro pop artists such as Charlie XCX and Miss Madeline. 

“I wanted to show how their music makes me feel, so I incorporated a lot of color and texture,” Newman said. “When I listen to [electronic music], I just think of color, energy and vibrance.”

His design was just as colorful as he described, with a fluffy white, blue and pink coat layered with a blue mini skirt, dyed sheer tights and tank top. It gave off a paint-splattered look that may be expected at an EDM rave. 

Junior fashion design major Mimi Lemar, the second designer tasked with creating EDM-based looks, brought different visuals and sound to the table. “Plastic Surgery,” released this September by Deep Courtesy, was the EDM song chosen by Mimi Lemar to showcase her designs.

Ajallah Toure, a junior studio art major, and Sammy Lemar modeled the looks. 

Jazz was put together by junior fashion design major Noor Hamidullah, who chose the genre because of her background with playing instruments. 

“I’m a band kid at heart, so I love jazz and how much movement there is in the music,” Hamidullah said. “There is this kind of push and pull that the trumpet and drums have with each other.”

According to Hamidullah, both looks were flouncy and made out of brocade fabric with floral motifs that were subtle and light. The main goal of her looks were to “show that there is more to jazz than just boring elevator music.”

Members of The Creator Collective felt deeply committed to their passions, whether it be film, music, fashion, art or photography, all of which bleed into every show they put on. 

“I feel like the music really gives each [outfit] a personality,” junior fashion design major Helen McLellan said. “You can tell that the person who made them really likes that genre, so it’s easier to see where each one is coming from.” 

McLellan was one of two designers who focused on the country genre. Her look was modeled by herself and created to reflect classic country music. 

“I was inspired by actual cowboys, people who lived on the frontier,” Mclellan said. “My original look and my new look were inspired by Annie Oakley.”

The second country designer Lauren Turner, a junior fashion design major, was inspired by Black country rodeos and Beyonces’ studio album, “Cowboy Carter.” Turner and model Heavenlee Payne, a sophomore communication studies major, wore outfits made to capture both a traditional rodeo style and a girly, functional design.

“I felt relieved, very appreciative and thankful after the show,” Turner said. “I had so much positive feedback on my designs; that feedback ultimately fueled me to do more fashion shows and keep up my creativity.”

Other genres: pop, alternative rock, gospel and hip hop were also included in the show, along with performers from Kent State’s K-Krew, a K-Pop club. 

“Our mission for this overall semester is to just expand out as much as we can and to reach different voices and people; music was such an amazing way for us to do that,” Daylon Brown, president of The Creator Collective and a junior digital media production major, said. 

The Kent State Fashion Museum is looking to attract more students by opening their doors to events such as “Music & Fashion & Music,” according to Museum Director Sarah Spinner Liska.

“We were thrilled to host the Creator Collective fashion show,” Spinner Liska said. “I believe it is the first time in the museum’s 39-year history that we have hosted a student-run fashion show in our galleries, and we could not have been more inspired by the students’ creativity.”

“As the new director of the museum, I am committed to centering students at the heart of our work and providing a platform for collaboration and innovation. Tonight was a true celebration of all we can accomplish together,” she said.

Elaina Matricardi is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].