The original creations of two students in Washington State University’s Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Design, and Textiles (AMDT) will be featured in The Bellevue Collection’s 20th Fashion Week this month.
Alizee Hargrove and Kiah Conway, along with six students from Central Washington University, Seattle Central College, and Seattle Pacific University, will each showcase two designs at the Collective Runway Show’s inaugural New & Next Student Designer Showcase on Sept. 27. The students’ work will remain on display at the Bellevue Square shopping center from Sept. 29 through Oct. 9.
“Kiah and Alizee stood out for pairing a clear design vision with impeccable construction,” said Ting Chi, AMDT professor and department chair. “Their garments are creative, marketable, and industry ready. A show like this compresses the realities of the industry — deadlines, collaboration, critique — into one powerful learning experience.”
To be considered for the showcase, the students were required to submit a portfolio and short video describing their design style and reasons for wanting to participate. In early 2025, the selected students attended a workshop in Bellevue, meeting one-on-one with the show’s modeling agency and marketing crew, as well as designers including former “Project Runway” contestant Deyonté Weather. Since then, the students have regularly collaborated with their Fashion Week mentors to refine their designs for the show.
“The workshop was very rewarding and helpful,” said Conway, who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in design after earning a bachelor’s degree in apparel design and merchandising in May 2025. “The atmosphere is so different when you’re bouncing ideas off professionals. It showed me how much details matter, and I know I can contact any of the designers for advice or recommendations in the future.”
Conway gravitates toward designs that celebrate femininity, cross gender norms, and focus on maximalism. For the showcase, she designed and sewed two chiffon evening gowns inspired by 1950s-era sleepwear.
After hearing she’d been selected, Conway could barely contain her excitement.
“I was freaking out!” she said. “I’m so happy my efforts paid off. Working with experienced professionals is so different and creatively freeing; it’s indescribable. They really pushed my limits, and their advice has been so beneficial. It’s a wonderful opportunity that I hope more students get in the future.”
Hargrove, who also graduated in May 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in apparel design, had a similar reaction.
“Our class is full of many talented designers with different styles,” she said. “It was mind-blowing to hear I was picked. I can’t wait to be inspired by the other students’ designs, see the reaction to my clothing, and receive feedback. I’m also thrilled to see where this showcase takes my career — that’s the most exciting part.”
Hargrove chose to create a twist on professional wear worn in career fields such as accounting, her second major. One of her designs is a mini skirt paired with a form-fitting, ruffled suit jacket that accentuates the bust and hips.
Her other creation is a deconstructed suit that incorporates one of her favorite design elements — the corset. To create the look, Hargrove made a suit top with a corset sewed into the middle. The outfit also includes a mini skirt, to which she added pleats to provide flare.
Hargrove is confident that the student showcase will bolster her portfolio while serving as a steppingstone to a future career in apparel design.
“Exposure is everything when it comes to this industry,” she said. “As students, it’s so important for us to get our work out there. This is a big opportunity.”