N.C. State Fashion Week starts today

Students at the North Carolina State University College of Textiles have been working hard for more than a year to showcase beauty, innovation, design leadership, creativity and overall fashion. Now, this week their work will be on display.

A number of students from across the globe have been selected to show off their creative and technical skills at two fashion shows. On Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., students from N.C. State, Donghua University in Shanghai, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Ravensbourne in London will have a chance to showcase their talents during an Avant-Garde fashion show. It will feature cutting edge fashion with designs that are radical, daring and experimental, but also embrace aesthetic, functional and technical appeal.

On Friday at 7:30 p.m., N.C. State works with the theme “Color Fusion” will be featured. On this night, you will have the privilege of experiencing a kaleidoscope of stimulating colors and emotions.

Not only will you get to see the best of the best showcasing their latest fashion designs, at Fashion Week 2012 there is also a lot to do in between shows. Visitors can participate in forums on innovation, creativity and design trends featuring experts from academia and industry. They will also be able to browse exhibits presenting some of N.C. State’s top textile and design innovations. And of course come ready to shop! An area has been set aside for students, artisans and craftsmen to sell their artwork, photography, ceramics, jewelry and textiles.

There are more than a few well- known companies sponsoring this event and the school has come up with a fashionable way to make these sponsors known. The students will be wearing black tunics with a green silk ribbon running down the back. The names of sponsors such as Ralph Lauren (the signature sponsor,) VF Corporation, fabric manufacturer Glen Raven, Cotton Incorporates and many more will be printed on the ribbons.

Fashion Week 2012 is designed to bring the industry and the university community together, creating a leadership challenge for students and faculty while allowing corporations to see all that N.C. State has to offer. No other event has ever integrated the educational experience with real world, working professionals and career experiences in quite this way, making this an event you will not want to miss.

General admission tickets to the Innovation or Creativity forums (which both include lunch) are $99, for faculty $75, for students $49, and for student volunteers or juried designers $25.