A flicker of the lights and then total darkness and silence. Suddenly the curtains opened, bathed in red light, and a squad of glittering red shirts and black skirts came out in choreographed dance.

Threads Fashion Show presented the theme of "A Night in the Spotlight." Hosted by the Fashion Merchandising and Design program (FMD), the student-run production show had 24 teams of designers and models showcasing their designs and receiving awards.

Jasmine Brookins

The Central Michigan University Infusion Dance Team opens up the fashion show with a performance to Burlesque in Plachta Auditorium on Saturday, April 12, 2025. (CM Life | Jasmine Brookins)

Threads Fashion Show provides a platform for aspiring apparel designers or for those students wanting experience in aspects of fashion production.

It offers many mediums to get involved in, such as model management, choreography, video production, web design, program guide development and public relations. It has been doing so since being founded in 1998 under the Fashion Merchandising and Design program.

Devin Newsom, a part of the production team of Threads, gave the introduction after the sudden dance on stage to a bustling, energetic crowd.

“Tonight, oh, tonight, we’re not only revealing passion, we’re revealing dreams, my darlings,” Newsom said. “We are here brought to you by the fashion show production and promotion team. It is because of their boundless creativity, endless passion and a touch of magic, that we stand here tonight preparing for an even elegant, louder and fierce facts.”

Some of the performances were:

"Ruby Reflection", designed by Milena Dharte, a mix of soft red and gold patterns swished on short dresses.
"Murderous Love" by Sheree Patton that showed long dresses in muted, dark colors of black and red, to white and blue with bits of green.
"Metamorphosis" by Sarahi Flores, with 6 models lining up to demonstrate the transition of pure white suits to a strawberry red bloom dress with white greyish wings being broken off.

In the final display, all teams and their designers flowed back onto the stage and down the ramp in a last procession to stand in the walkway among the audience before the judges made their decisions.

Newsom came back on stage to introduce the producers, who he called the “masterminds behind the curtain," and allow them to present the winners. They were Emily Stabile, Kristen Pitschel and Piper-Rae Davis.

Pitschel, a senior majoring in Fashion Merchandising used the opportunity to thank her directors, committee members, and the university at large, saying she remembered watching the Threads Fashion Show as a high school student senior.

“To be standing here now, just a few years later, is a full circle moment for me," she said. "Never would I have imagined then that one day I would be helping produce the very show that first inspired me to study fashion at CMU.”

Davis, standing on stage with the other producers, read out the winners:

Avant Garde Award, given to the collection “that is most unique, unusual, or unconventional,” went to "Celadon" by Anna Malonson.
Best use of Technology, awarded to the collection that “best showcases the importance of forward thinking in the intersection of fashion and technology,” went to "Waste not Want" not by Mari Rose.
Sustainability award, for “designers who go beyond esthetics, those who are rethinking materials, processes and purpose to reduce harm and drive cognitive change in our,” went to Lee Landis for "Midieval Moulin."
The judge’s choice award “to highlight and celebrate a collection that they love” went to Sarahi Flores for "Metamorphosis."
Rookie of the Year, awarded to a “first time designer who demonstrated exceptional use of a newly learned skill” went to Milena Dharte for "Ruby Reflection."
The best FND 447 Award, an award that recognizes the “top collection developed in class" went to "Mystic Elegance" by Madelyn Vanhuizen.
The Overall Best design award, for most cohesion and fitting with the theme and the Viewer's choice award went to Charlize Wright for "Glided Illusions."
Best Overall execution went to Lauren Folk for "Rot."

Jasmine Brookins

Central Michigan University senior Charlize Wright is awarded the viewers choice award for her collection Gilded Illusions in Plachta Auditorium on Saturday, April 12, 2025. (CM Life | Jasmine Brookins)

University President Neil MacKinnon was on the stage briefly in his Scottish kilts, as he spoke about the interdisciplinary nature of tonight’s fashion show.

“What I really love about this event, is that it involves many students across disciplinaries,” MacKinnon said, noting that students were showcasing their talents from photography to web design. “This event tonight that we’re all joined together, whether you’re a student, faculty, staff, or you’re a community member or donor, you’re really seeing interdisciplinary students working together for a united purpose.”

Pitschel in the same spirit said that Threads Fashion is a great way to bring community from many places together.

"I feel like it's just a great way to bring as many people as possible," she said.

Stabile said it also brings students experience during and after college that is relevant to the real world.

"It runs just like a fashion show," Stabile said. "We create it backstage just like a fashion would, and it can give them that real opportunity to experience something like that and be prepared for the real world when they go into (the) fashion industry.

"I think the whole show focuses on what the students can do in our program. It highlights talents of collaborating with other departments as well. Their skills are so different, yet they all remain so cohesive, you can put them in one show together."