Featured Artist : Kent State University School of Fashion Design and Merchandising

These four collections were designed by graduating seniors from the Kent State University Shannon Rogers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising. The collections were designed in April 2012, during the students' junior year, and were then completed throughout both semesters of their senior year. The first semester was spent making muslin samples of the garments, and the second semester was spent making the final garments, which were then critiqued by a panel of industry professionals. Each designer had a different inspiration for his or her own collection. 

Joslyn Allen's collection was inspired by the craft and tradition of a Mexican wedding dress, and the goal was to implement the intricate details into everyday clothing. The collection is completely sustainable and uses techniques such as hand-crochet, zero-waste pattern making, and low-impact dyes. 

Brandi Finley's collection was inspired by the idea of an impending storm. Many of her fabrics are hand-dyed, and she also used zero-waste pattern making techniques in several pieces. 

J.J. Fecik's collection was inspired by the Meiji Restoration in Japan and is suggestive of the fact that the change that occurred during that time in Japan can be indicative of the shift to a more sustainable lifestyle today in the United States. He used zero-waste pattern making techniques by using traditional kimono pattern making in order to make updated versions of the classic garments. 

Claire Bruch's collection was inspired by both of her grandmothers. The two women had a passion for gardening, and one of her grandmothers is responsible for starting a nursery that is still very successful today. Claire drew inspiration from flowers by creating her own prints. She also used hand-dyeing and zero-waste pattern making techniques. 

Many of the fabrics utilized in these collections were from Dharma Trading Co.