Project Runway College Version: Juniata Students Debut Clothing Line
(Posted February 12, 2007)
HUNTINGDON, Pa. - Normally, fashion shows at a college or university are focused on women\'s clothing, but two enterprising Juniata College students have formed their own clothing company and are showcasing their work in a runway show at 8:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 16 in the ballroom of Ellis Hall on the Juniata campus.
The event\'s admission fee is $1 at the door and it is open to the public.
The fashion show also will feature men\'s and women\'s clothing from a variety of central Pennsylvania companies and clothing stores, but the Juniata event is organized by Ryan Conrad, a junior from Waynesboro, Pa. studying public relations, and Richard Rudolph, a sophomore from Pittsburgh studying business. The two students have formed a clothing company called Polyphony Clothing, which focuses its designs on the young adult \"surf clothes\" demographic. The company currently has designs for sweatshirts and T-shirts and plants to branch out into shorts and \"aloha\"-style shirts.
\"We\'re aiming at the high school and college buyer, and we plan to provide comfortable, high-quality clothes at a price lower than some of the national chain stores,\" says Conrad. \"Right now we are investing only our own money, but we hope to apply our idea to the Juniata Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership if we expand our company.\"
In addition to Polyphony, there will be designs by two other casual clothing lines, Confess Clothing, based in Philadelphia, Pa. and Pyknic Clothing, located in Long Beach Island, N.J. Other area stores also will show clothing, including Gia & Company and Industrie, two State College-based stores, and two national chain stores, Buckle and Fashion Bug.
\"Some of the companies will bring their own models, but most of the modeling will be done by a truly diverse selection of 20 to 30 Juniata students,\" Conrad says.
Students can purchase clothing after the fashion show. Hairpeace, a Waynesboro-based hair salon owned by Judy Polidor, will offer haircuts for $15, as well as free massages.
Following the fashion show, there will be a concert featuring the touring band The Shackeltons, starting at 9:30 p.m.
The fashion show and concert is sponsored by Juniata\'s Health and Wellness Center and JC UpLate, a student services organization that organizes Friday-night events that are alternatives to bar-hopping. Profits from the event will go to refurbishing the student radio station WKVR and to the National Eating Disorders Association.
Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.