College Town Kent presented its second For the Love of Fashion show at the Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center Friday, February 12, 2016.

 For the Love of Fashion Show is an event that showcases Kent’s local retailers and restaurants, such as Insomnia Cookies, GracyLane, One Love Yoga Boutique and Panini’s.

 The fashion show highlights the night with a fashion runway where models from each of the participating retailers model their clothing and accessories.

 According to College Town Kent Marketing Director Debra Sherman, College Town Kent joined forces with a sorority from Kent State University that is decided through a contest that takes place during November and December.

“Each sorority participates in a 2-part challenge of visiting the property and ‘checking in’ with tenants to earn points and then submitting a photo of their chapter that includes College Town Kent in some way.”  Sherman said.

The winner is then announced at the end of the contest based on the totaled points from both challenge.

This year’s winner is Alpha Xi Delta. Alpha Xi Delta’s philanthropy, Autism Speaks, earned all the proceeds gained from the tickets sales from the event.

 Alpha Xi Delta President Kristen Hayes said that the evening went great for sorority and helped promote its philanthropy.

“We had a sold out show and got to perform in front of our friends and family.” Hayes said. She hopes that Alpha Xi Delta can help organize the event next year.

Tori Tedesco, College Town Kent Marketer, said that the event sold out at over 250 tickets and couldn’t be happier about how the evening played out.

Along with the fashion runway event, the retailers had an opportunity to sell their merchandise at the end of the night.

Carnaby Street Style owner Emma Kennell helped  come up with the idea of a fashion show.

 “We just had all these ideas for the show and involving a sorority was one of them so that we could connect campus with the rest of downtown,” Kennell said.

Kennell said that the build up to the event was great, and she had plenty of customers purchasing tickets for the event.

April Huth, owner of the One Love Yoga Boutique, said she had participated with the fashion show last year and was eager to be a part of it.

 “It’s honestly a way to show people what Downtown Kent has to offer and it’s overall a great time.” Huth said.