Kent State University’s Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising will feature junior and senior-level student designs at its annual Portfolio fashion show April 24-26 in Rockwell Hall on the Kent campus. Portfolio features the collections of 24 fashion design majors.

In addition to student designs, Portfolio 2008 will acknowledge the life and accomplishments of Michael Weiss, CEO of Express clothing company,who will be inducted into the school’s Fashion Hall of Fame. Express operates 200 stores in the United States with annual net sales of more than $2 billion. The April 25 VIP show also will celebrate the school’s 25th anniversary and will be dedicated to Geneva Damron, a Kent State alum and friend of the Fashion School, for her generous support.

Started in 1983, the Fashion School celebrated its grand opening in its current home of Rockwell Hall in 1990.  In the past 25 years, the school has been led by three directors: Gladys Toulis (1984-85); June Mohler (1986-1993) and Elizabeth Rhodes (1994-present). 

The program always has offered two majors including a bachelor of arts in fashion design and a bachelor of science in fashion merchandising. Today, the Fashion School has more than 1,000 undergraduate students and offers educational opportunities in Europe, Asia and New York City where students spend a full semester off campus studying as a part of their career and academic preparation. 

On April 24, show times are 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. for Kent State students only. Tickets cost $15 for the student show. A sold out VIP show will be held at 6 p.m. on April 25, and shows open to the general public will take place at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on April 26. Tickets for the general public are $65. 

Tickets can be purchased at the Fashion School in Rockwell Hall, Kent Student Center, or by calling 330-672-0194. All proceeds go to the Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising. 

 Photos will be available Friday, April 25, by 9:30 p.m.

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Media contacts:

Rachel Wenger-Pelosi, 330-672-8046, rwenger@kent.edu
or
Elyse Goldberg, egoldbe1@kent.edu
Press and Publicity
Portfolio