Student designers turned a greenhouse into a runway as Michigan State University’s Horticulture Gardens became the setting for Studio 450, a student-led fashion show showcasing original work by emerging fashion designers.
Surrounded by glass conservatories and lush greenery, models moved through an evening of fashion that was about more than garments on display. For the Apparel and Textile Design, or ATD, students behind Studio 450, the show was a chance to bring original ideas to life. It represented months of creative work and collaboration, offering valuable hands-on experience in designing, producing and presenting a public fashion event from the ground up.
Organized entirely by ATD students, the first-ever Studio 450 Fashion Show, held April 30, created a platform for 16 emerging designers to showcase their work while gaining experience in all aspects of fashion production. The students who organized the event coordinated designer submissions, model castings, promotion and logistics while transforming the Horticulture Gardens into an immersive runway for creativity, storytelling and self-expression.
The 16 designers, all ATD majors, whose original work was featured in the Studio 450 Fashion Show include:
- Fernando Caccia
- Yalitzy Campbell
- Tony Cox
- Oranna Dreaver
- Angel Ennis
- Olivia Hinton
- Jillian Kelly
- Tristian Laney
- Audrey Perry
- Brennan Petrucci
- Allyson Pollitt
- Donovan Powell
- Evelyn Short
- Holly VandenBussche
- Reagan Wiley
- Abby Yheaulon
For Fernando Caccia, co-founder of Studio 450 and one of the show’s organizers, the event represented both an ambitious undertaking and a meaningful opportunity to elevate student work beyond the classroom.
“As a designer, organizer and graduating senior, my experience with the Studio 450 Fashion Show was both rigorous and deeply rewarding,” Caccia said. “What began as a simple idea quickly evolved into an ambitious undertaking. This was to create a platform that could showcase the hard work, talent and commitment of student designers.”
Working alongside fellow student organizers Jillian Kelly, Reagan Wiley, Tony Cox and Evelyn Short, Caccia helped secure a venue, coordinate designer submissions and model castings and lead event promotion.
“Our efforts were met with an overwhelming response, resulting in a remarkable pool of applicants and the selection of a stunning venue at the Horticulture Gardens,” said Caccia, crediting the gardens’ event coordinator, Victoria Churchill, with helping bring the students’ vision to life.
The show also reflected the breadth of experiences the ATD students have gained beyond the classroom. Featured designers included students — Jillian Kelly, Tristian Laney and Reagan Wiley — who previously showcased adaptive garments at the Fall 2025 iBRAIN “iCAN Do Anything” Fashion Show during New York Fashion Week, where they designed custom clothing for students with brain-based disabilities. Experiences like that brought additional industry insight to Studio 450 while demonstrating how fashion can combine creativity, innovation, accessibility and inclusion.
“Clothing is often overlooked due to its universality in our daily lives; however, what we choose to wear is a powerful form of artistic expression and identity,” Caccia said. “Fashion, at its best, is intentional. It communicates who we are and how we wish to be perceived by those around us. It inspires and it is everchanging.”
That sense of intentionality was reflected throughout the evening as each designer brought a distinct perspective and creative voice to the runway.
For Evelyn Short, the Studio 450 Fashion Show provided an opportunity to showcase multiple facets of her design practice while also helping shape the event itself. She presented two looks from her “Mirabelle” collection, a bridal-inspired series dedicated to her grandmother that features 1970s-inspired silhouettes, along with a piece from her knitwear collection, “Grace,” featuring an entirely machine-knit shawl.
“Being able to produce this show alongside the rest of the Studio 450 team was an incredible opportunity,” Short said. “As students, we wanted to showcase our work in a way that felt authentic and gave us real-world experience in producing a show from the ground up. To see so many students come together to make this event happen was truly amazing, and I am so grateful Studio 450 provided an outlet to showcase our creative work.”
For Angel Ennis, fashion is a vehicle for storytelling and advocacy. Inspired by the theme “Eclipse,” Ennis said her design reflected the challenges people of color face, particularly within student communities that often struggle for funding and institutional support, but despite those obstacles, continue to persevere, grow and create impact.”
“I wanted my garment to embody that journey: the tension of struggle, the resilience required to endure it and the transformation that comes from pushing through adversity,” Ennis said. “Through silhouette, structure and detail, my design reflects the idea that even when overshadowed, our communities emerge stronger, bolder and more powerful than before.”
For Ennis, the experience demonstrated fashion’s power as a form of expression and representation. Her piece, she said, was more than fashion. It was a statement about endurance, identity and the beauty of rising despite limitation.
“The Studio 450 Fashion Show and the ATD program gave me the opportunity to turn a meaningful message into wearable art,” she said. “Through my collection ‘Eclipse,’ I was able to express resilience, cultural strength and the power of perseverance. This experience reminded me that fashion can be a voice for change, representation and community.”
For Allyson Pollitt, who designs under the name Allyson Rose, each collection is an opportunity to push herself creatively while maintaining a commitment to sustainability. She strives to create pieces that are bold, chic and innovative while remaining polished and graceful, with garments that help the wearer feel confident. She sources many of her materials from fabrics she already owns or obtains from family, friends and secondhand shops.
Pollitt’s collection, “Soft Armor,” featured in the Studio 450 Fashion Show included garments made from thrifted lace, mesh, tablecloths, bed sheets, curtains and repurposed textiles assembled into pieces meant to feel soft and comfortable while simultaneously helping wearers feel “strong, powerful and protected.”
Pollitt also acknowledged the collaborative effort required to bring the show to life.
“I am so incredibly proud of the team of students that put this together,” she said. “This show could not have happened without the group of senior designers who not only were in the midst of finishing their last semester at MSU and preparing to graduate but somehow found a way to build this show from the ground up. I am so grateful to have been a part of such a magical and creative production, and I would do it 100 times over again!”
As models moved through the conservatory surrounded by greenery and glass, Studio 450 reflected the creativity, technical skill and determination of the ATD students. Beyond showcasing original designs, the event challenged students to push their creative boundaries while building confidence and gaining real-world experience as emerging designers.
“I really enjoyed being part of the fashion show. The designing process was hard because I’m still learning how I operate and sew, but I’m happy I pushed myself and with how many connections I made,” Audrey Perry said. “For both pieces I designed, my goal was to improve my skills and see how far I could push myself with the time I was given. I ended up sewing both skirts onto the model and draping all the pieces, which made the process tricky because this was my first time draping. Overall, I would do this again next year. It was an amazing opportunity that will help me become a better designer.”
For many students, the experience offered something especially valuable: the chance to see their work featured on a runway of their own making.
“I had a great experience with the Studio 450 Fashion Show,” Yalitzy Campbell said. “The students who coordinated this entire show did a great job being inclusive and organizing the event. It was a great opportunity for us to showcase our work and gain valuable experiences for our portfolios. I hope to see more student-led fashion shows in the future, and I hope to be a part of them.”
Student-led from concept to runway, Studio 450 demonstrated how hands-on experiences outside the classroom are helping MSU Apparel and Textile Design students develop the creative, technical and collaborative skills they’ll carry into careers in the fashion industry while giving emerging designers a platform to share their artistic vision.
This story originally appeared on the College of Arts and Letters website.
