MURFREESBORO Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University Textiles, Merchandising and Design Program students set their sights on an “Unstoppable Future” as this year’s annual fashion show recently stepped onto the runway.

“‘The Unstoppable Future’ was a runway show like no other,” said Tiffany Fortson, fashion lecturer in MTSU‘s Textiles, Merchandising and Design Program, popularly known as TXMD. “The class received rave reviews of the final show. And tickets sold out in nine days with only word-of-mouth marketing.”

Putting on such a big production took students hundreds of hours of planning and preparation ahead of the April 20 show time in the atrium of MTSU’s Miller Education Center on Bell Street.

“It’s the culmination of everything we’ve learned in our classes and it’s a chance to apply things in a real-world situation,” explained Anna Davidson of Mt. Juliet, who served as co-director of the 2024 show alongside fellow senior Nora Peebles of Smyrna.

The record-breaking sellout saw more than 70 design submissions from students and a whopping 80 auditions of models wanting to participate in the much-anticipated event. In the end, 48 submissions as well as students were selected for the show.

“I am beyond proud of my students and the theme for this year is a perfect fit for this class. They are unstoppable and I am sure they will make a positive impact in the apparel industry in the future” Fortson said.

In the days before the show, production crews set the stage in the atrium of Miller. During daylong rehearsals, models popped in and out of makeshift dressing tents, others applied makeup and styled hair, while designers put the finishing touches on their fashion collections.

Lots of planning, prep for production

The production process was buzzing with activity and artistry, along with a steady beat dance music thumping in the background.

“It’s a chance for merchandisers and designers to work together in a way we haven’t been able to do previously,” Davidson said.

Preparation for the show, as well as execution, required a lot of cohesion.

“You take on all of the skills you’ve learned in pattern making and in design and create it into something that people look at and see,” said Peebles, who voluntarily created a runway collection for her senior semester while juggling show production duties.

Judy Nguyen, a senior TXMD Program student who served as production manager, also voluntarily created a collection for the show and titled it “Etheric Riot.”

“It blends other-worldly elements with a chaotic, rebellious spirit,” explained Nguyen, whose designs were inspired by video game characters.

As a unique element, Nguyen incorporated UV-reactive clothing into her designs.

“They change from colorless,” Nguyen explained, pointing to models wearing warm white knit tops, “to blue and pink.”

Show gives valuable experiential learning

The show provided an opportunity to involve students like Logan Owens, a communications major who loves fashion and design.

“I did it last year and it was really fun. I had a really good time,” said Owens, “and I was dead set on doing it again this year.”

Although it was a tough balancing act, the show gave Peebles and Davidson a welcomed challenge for their creativity as they wind down their time at MTSU.

“Being able to be in charge so much and have so much going on and have to manage and having my collection,” Peebles said, “I feel like this is a great resume experience as well as a life experience.”

Davidson was also proud about “being able to give back” to the Textiles, Merchandising and Design Program through “such an important way.”  

“I think MTSU allowing us to celebrate fashion and celebrate the arts in this way is so important to us as students in the community,” Davidson said, “and I think it’s just a great opportunity to … share something we’re so passionate about with so many people.”

Textiles, Merchandising and Design, which has concentrations in apparel design and fashion merchandising, is one of the majors offered by the Department of Human Sciences in the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences.

— Nancy DeGennaro (Nancy.DeGennaro@mtsu.edu)