Meet Arianna Hawkins, the mind behind Jahn (@jahns_classic). Arianna is a designer, model and overall creative who pulls all of her inspiration from her daily life as an autistic/disabled black woman. Founding her work off the human experience and the emotions that come with it, her goal is to enhance one’s natural ability to connect to themselves and others through design, art, sound and movement.

Meet Ashley Nino-Villalobos (@ashleynnv_) the designer behind Piece of Mine.

“As someone who is constantly changing styles and experimental in fashion, ‘Piece of Mine’ is a collection of phases throughout my life. This name came to be because designing and creating gives me peace of mind that I didn’t know was possible. It gave me a deeper understanding of myself and purpose. As I continue to build my other creative pursuits, fashion is the glue connecting them all. I wish I could describe the style or vibe of my brand but it’s not meant to be fully understood by the consumer, but for myself. To combat fast fashion and overconsumption, one of my core values is to be as sustainable as possible. The practice of transforming something ‘old’ into something new is very powerful to me.”

Meet Hunter Wells (@alterraclothing) (@_hunterwells_).

Alterra is a sustainable fashion brand founded by designer Hunter Wells, rooted in the belief that fashion should be a force for transformation — both in style and in impact.

The name “Alterra” is a fusion of alter, meaning change, and terra, meaning earth, symbolizing the brand’s mission to reshape our relationship with clothing and the planet. Alterra stands for conscious creation, embracing unconventional materials, upcycling, and bold, boundary-pushing design that challenges the norm. With a vision to merge environmental responsibility with expressive fashion, Hunter has showcased Alterra’s work at Kansas City Fashion Week and Des Moines Area Community College’s fashion show, receiving recognition for innovative, art-driven pieces that tell stories of renewal, resilience, and individuality.

Meet Bay Dawn (@downbybay) the designer behind Bay Collectives.

Bay Dawn is the visionary behind Bay Collectives - a brand that’s foundation is built on eco conscious values, authentic self expression and challenges traditional gender boundaries in fashion. Bay flips thrifted garments into alternative, one of a kind pieces where ready to wear meets avant garde styling.

She believes there is no punk without politics which inspires Bay to use her voice through fashion. She sees fashion as a way to provoke dialogue surrounding current issues within the world today. She wants her audience members to question societal norms.

Meet Brian Ibarra (@uarp.ed) the designer behind UAR®.

Brian Ibarra is a Chicano designer from Iowa and the creative force behind UAR® , a clothing line rooted in identity, heritage, and self-expression. Drawing inspiration from his Midwest upbringing, vintage streetwear, and Chicano culture, Brian’s work blends the everyday with the intentional, creating garments that honor working-class roots, youth, and cultural pride. His designs are deeply personal, often upcycled or handmade, with silhouettes influenced by immigrant families, skaters, quince culture, and historical styles like the zoot suit. Through UAR®, we invite wearers to feel seen, empowered, and unapologetically themselves.

Welcome to my Bio, I am RJ, BAM, Mr.El3vatee. Step into my world where it’s nothing but Love, learning, growth and building with others on the same page. I’m strongly founded in living with purpose! More importantly making a difference in the next generations by being leader to prosperity and bringing light to changing the world with your God given uniqueness! EL3VATEE!…, Now say it; it’s an action ! When you take action you begin the journey of achieving your greater success. The story of untold stories…. As we continue to grow in our journey, El3vatee is the lifestyle, It’s what you'll choose to turn your dreams into reality!

Jessica Gimba is an Iowa State University Fashion Design & Merchandising student with a deep love for storytelling through style. Her work blends ultra-feminine aesthetics: lace, ruffles, bows, and soft silhouettes with a conceptual approach that goes beyond just pretty clothes. She designs with feeling, narrative, and intention. While she loves designing garments and bringing visions to life, Jessica is equally passionate about concept development. Her dream is to be both a designer and creative director, curating every element of a fashion story. From the clothing to the atmosphere it lives in. For her, fashion is about emotion, storytelling, and building entire worlds through style.

My name is Arianna Stanton. I design clothing from a place of observation, process, and material honestly. I started sewing in middle school, with a machine i begged my parents for. Years later, what began as an interest became a practice, and soon a brand. My work draws from land and sea, with patchwork, and sun-faded prints, with a nod to nautical structure and movement. I make every piece myself, with emphasis on quality, detail and intentional design. My brand is called Sovrence, a word I formed combining sovereign and limerence, which a reflection of my approach: Self guided but emotionally drawn, grounded but captivated. My goal is to create garments that feel lived-in, thoughtful, and deeply personal.

“Meet Alicia Jensen, a Design Fellow for The Fashion Circuit & the founder of Cherry Glass: a moody & eclectic clothing & accessories brand that creates pieces that have a distinctly handcrafted & deeply personal touch. Inspired by the textures & silhouettes of the 1990s & the rebellion & romance of icons like Vivienne Westwood, Cherry Glass seeks to imagine an engaging & androgynous idea of everyday self-expression. Crafted from secondhand and thrifted materials, Cherry Glass transforms the forgotten fabrics, down to the scraps, into one-of-a-kind pieces with a soul. It’s fashion that’s sustainable, deeply personal, & unapologetically funky—made for those who crave story, thoughtfulness, & a dose of nostalgia in what they wear.”

Is a Kenyan American whose work transcends traditional boundaries. With a keen eye for visual detail and a passion for cultural exploration, she transforms ideas into engaging narratives that captivate communities. Her approach is inspired by nature, art, and global perspectives, seamlessly weaving together elements that reflect diverse stories and identities

While in university, Sandrah launched Nasimiyu Studios, a creative agency that believes in the centering power of the human experience. Over the past five years, she has worked with brands across industries, including fashion, travel, and technology, to reimagine and breathe new life into their audience.

A social butterfly at heart, she is carving out the world she wants to see with some grace but mostly passion because her creativity has no single form.

Izzy Kelai is a creative director who blends dance, modeling, fashion, and multimedia arts to tell meaningful stories of self-expression and unity. Through his brand Wesowrooted, Izzy highlights the importance of staying connected to one’s roots while embracing diversity, growth, and healing.

By using photography, videography, and creative direction, he creates visuals that honor heritage, amplify underrepresented voices, and inspire reflection.

Wesowrooted serves as a platform for turning art into a bridge for connection and transformation. Izzy’s work celebrates individuality while fostering collective understanding, encouraging people to reconnect with their identity and community. With authenticity and intention, he transforms creative expression into a powerful tool for storytelling, connection, and change.

Trinity LaKose (@trinnoelphotography) is a Fashion, Design & Merchandising Major with a minor in Journalism currently in her senior year at Iowa State University. She is a photography manager for TREND magazine (@trenndmag_) at ISU and has also been involved in multiple fashion shows across the midwest including Kansas City Fashion Week, Omaha Fashion Week & Iowa State’s annual Fashion Show. Trinity shoots mainly fashion & editorial photography and wants to emphasize the growing fashion scene in the midwest which has so many talented individuals and creative energy that deserves to be recognized and celebrated. She is passionate about the impact fashion has on the world around us and wants to shine a light on the creatives who are changing the industry for the better.

Marcelo Acosta was born and raised in Des Moines and is currently in his final year at the University of Northern Iowa, studying Business Marketing with a minor in Digital Media Production. He is the founder of Celo Studios, a creative brand built to produce short films and original content for all to experience. Through Celo Studios, Marcelo hopes to bring stories to life and create impactful, engaging content that reaches diverse audiences and provides a space for creativity to thrive.

Josie is the Fashion Circuit's Marketing Lead. She is a journalist who has worked at Iowa Public Radio, the Denver Post, and NPR. She also runs a fashion and style newsletter, "Short and Sweet," that focuses on fashion news and petite style. Josie graduated from the University of Iowa's School of Journalism in 2022.

Sara is a fashion designer and stylist who finds inspiration in transformation—whether it’s breathing new life into upcycled materials or bringing bold ideas to life on the runway. She studied fashion at Iowa State University and Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), where she got her start leading styling and backstage coordination for student-run fashion shows. Since then, she’s grown her brand ClubShopaholix, creating standout designs that fuse sustainability with drama and individuality.

Her work has been featured in DMACC’s fashion showcases, the Child Serve Bubble Ball gala, and as a design fellow for The Fashion Circuit spring show. Sara is also a proud team member of The Curve Factor and an active member of the local arts community. She continues to champion inclusive, creative, and expressive fashion. For her, design is about more than clothes—it’s about making a statement and leaving a lasting impression.

Production co-lead Addy is a recent graduate of the DMACC Fashion Institute, where she earned a degree in Fashion Design along with a Styling Certificate. She also produced the 2024 Midnight Metro fashion show while winning several awards. With a deep-rooted passion for the industry, Addy brings together her skills in design, modeling, and event coordination to seamlessly manage every moving part of a fashion production.

Addy believes fashion is one of the most personal and unavoidable art forms, after all, we all wear clothes, and what we wear tells our story. Her love for fashion began with frustration: she couldn’t find clothes that truly reflected her story. That creative gap led to the launch of her brand, Whotfisaddy, a bold, imaginative line that fuses unexpected fabrics and silhouettes. From pinstripes to camo bloomers, her pieces aim to bring to life the unique ideas people carry in their heads but can’t find in stores.

Kierra is a multifaceted creative professional, event producer, and visual storyteller with a deep passion for community, culture, and connection. As the founder of CndidSoul Collective and co-founder of Lavish, she curates immersive experiences that merge fashion, art, performance, and narrative—creating spaces where people feel seen, inspired, and empowered. Her work doesn’t just highlight—it heals, gathers, and amplifies. Every frame she captures, every show she shapes, carries the imprint of her core values: vulnerability, dependability, and authenticity. Kierra approaches each project with intention, clarity, and heart—seamlessly blending aesthetics with purpose.

Named one of the 2025 faces of The Curve Factor, Kierra’s growing presence in the Midwest fashion scene reflects her deep commitment to body positivity, inclusivity, and creative expression. Rooted in community, led by intuition, and shaped by purpose, Kierra transforms fleeting moments into lasting memories—and brings bold stories to life from behind the scenes.

Linzee Lowery founder of Focus on Me Photography LLC, a visionary creative with over 6 years of experience in photography and creative direction. Capturing moments that blend artistry, emotion and style. From bold editorial shoots to agency digitals, Linzee has collaborated with names like Arquette Agency, coaching models on posing, interviews and runway presence. Her work has graced the runway of fashion shows and the pages of agency websites. Whether behind the lens or directing the scene, she thrives on bringing ideas to life and inspiring confidence in-front and behind the camera.

Hi guys; My name is Shanee, and I’m a public relations and International studies student at Iowa State University with a minor in event management. I am apart of both the marketing and set design team! I’m a creative based in Des Moines who enjoys writing, photography and public speaking! Be on the lookout for my blog coming this fall where I discuss all things creative and as always feel free to connect with me to work together:)

Chas is a lifelong artist and crafter, with an adoration of and focus on textile and sculptural work. They've spent the past three years exploring different roles within fashion and theatre spaces, currently working in alterations. Of all the roles they've taken on, they deeply enjoy assisting backstage and with the production process. Always striving to be calm and caring amongst the chaos of creativity.

Peyton Houangvan is a Tai Dam first-generation American and a student at Grand View University, majoring in Business Administration and Communication Media Production. A multi-talented creative, she expresses herself through modeling, photography, singing, and dancing. As a brain tumor survivor, Peyton’s journey of resilience fuels her passion for inspiring others through both fashion and storytelling. Deeply connected to her cultural roots, she brings authenticity, strength, and creativity to every project she takes on.

I am a third year at Iowa State University majoring in Industrial Design with minors in World Film Studies and Entrepreneurship. Last spring, I was part of The Fashion Circuit and had a wonderful experience. This year, I am eager to return, but with a focus on the marketing and business side of the program. I look forward to combining my business and creative strengths to help build something meaningful and beautiful with The Fashion Circuit.

Hi! My name is Angel, and I’m a sophomore at Iowa State University majoring in Marketing. I help capture behind-the-scenes content and support the Marketing team wherever I’m needed, helping bring the vision to life. I joined The Fashion Circuit because I’ve always loved how fashion can speak without words and how small details can spark connections. What excites me most is working alongside others to bring creative ideas to life and helping people feel seen and inspired through what we create. Through content creation, I get to capture the in-between moments that often go unseen, making them feel just as special as the final product. Being part of The Fashion Circuit has helped me explore new ways of expressing ideas visually and pushed me to think more intentionally about how fashion and media connect. More than anything, I love connecting with others, uplifting people, and helping shape experiences that feel inspiring, warm, and personal. I’m excited to keep growing creatively and finding beauty in the details that make fashion so expressive and authentic.

Karawa Deng Mamor is a first-generation American with roots in South Sudan, a storyteller at heart and a visionary in practice. Currently studying Communications with an emphasis on Writing and Visualization, he fuses words and imagery to craft photos and films that don’t just capture moments—they breathe life into them.

A multifaceted creative and entertainer, Karawa draws from the textures of everyday life, the magic of cinema, and the boundless worlds of animation. His work transforms sparks of inspiration into full-fledged projects—each infused with intention, emotion, and a touch of wonder.

Whether strutting the runway in fashion, freezing time through photography, or weaving narratives in film, he approaches every medium with a signature style: bold, imaginative, and unmistakably his own. For Karawa, art is more than creation—it’s a bridge between experience and expression, between the seen and the felt.