MARION MADE FASHION SHOW.

Overview.

In the summer of 2018, Marion Design Co. hosted its first-ever Fashion Show in the downtown where we hosted a screening of the movie The True Cost, followed by a runway filled with models whose outfits struck up conversations about the effects of fast fashion as well as sustainable clothing. On November 16th, 2019 we returned to host a second Fashion Show in the newly renovated Boston Hill Center, continuing the discussion of the fashion industry and sustainability while becoming forever a part of the history of the new city center.

Through partnership with design classes at Indiana Wesleyan University and art classes from Marion High School we sought to continue to engage the community in a conversation around fashion using recycled materials and secondhand clothing. The challenge we were solving was to design a fashion show that invites, includes, and successfully incorporates the community and students together in a space that celebrates the creative people of Marion. 

Process.

After weeks of planning, designing, researching, interviewing, prototyping, collaborating, and building an entire fashion show for the community and students, it was time for the show. The show involved a 22 model catwalk, a professional photoshoot, concessions, and an after party. Best of all, it was free for the community to attend.  

Result.

With over 300 people attending, this standing-room-only event was a raging success. The Marion Made Fashion show had a significant impact on the city of Marion, as hundreds of people came to downtown to celebrate sustainable fashion and the art created from both Indiana Wesleyan students and Marion High school art students. The Boston Hill Center, a newly renovated building in downtown Marion, got more foot traffic than ever before, creating awareness and culture for downtown Marion. Indiana Wesleyan students, especially first-year art students, became more comfortable and aware of downtown Marion, creating a new perception and relationship between the two parts. The Form and Function class got to see their work implemented into a real-life situation and learned how to collaborate in teams to make ideas become a reality. By serving the Marion Community, students became designers for social impact, creating an experience, a relationship, and a celebration of art and design through the community.

The mayor closed out the night with some words we won’t soon forget, that “today was a good day for Marion.”

We were able to prove that we can bring sustainability and foot traffic back to the downtown square that historically was the largest social hub in the entire city. We have been able to learn and pull inspiration from the creatives and entrepreneurs before us to influence the new future of Marion, Indiana.