FARGO — Blooms may be slow to start this year, but within the fashion design world at North Dakota State University, spring has sprung.
The annual student-led fashion show, held Wednesday, April 29, was bursting with creativity and collaboration, as students walked the runway in fellow designer’s clothing. Many senior students showed off their own designs, celebrating the culmination of their degrees before heading out into the fashion design world.
North Dakota State University student Kianna Wyland walks the runway Wednesday, April 29, 2026, showcasing the designs of fellow student designer Crystal Rounsville as part of the Joy Studio Project during “Community Garden: A Fashion Show in Bloom,” the annual student-led fashion show held at NDSU’s Oceti Sakowin Ballroom.
Anna Paige / The Forum
Titled “Community Garden: A Fashion Show in Bloom,” the event was also a celebration of community, featuring works in both the Joy Studio Program and Apron Project. Apparel, retail merchandising and design program students worked alongside
Joy Studio owner Aying Zhang
to develop low waste garments using vintage and hand-woven fabrics from Zhang’s hometown, Hangzhou, China. For the Apron Project, design students worked the School of Design, Architecture and Art to create custom utility aprons.
Owner of Joy Studio, Aying Zhang, alongside Karen Mehnert-Meland, take in the fashion designs on the runway Wednesday, April 29, 2026, during “Community Garden: A Fashion Show in Bloom,” the annual student-led fashion show held at NDSU’s Oceti Sakowin Ballroom.
Anna Paige / The Forum
North Dakota State University graduate assistant and architecture student Jack Quinn wears a custom apron designed by Apparel, Retail Merchandising and Design program student Kayleah Fleury for the Maker Space Apron Project on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, during “Community Garden: A Fashion Show in Bloom,” the annual student-led fashion show held at NDSU’s Oceti Sakowin Ballroom.
Anna Paige / The Forum
“We are so grateful to everyone who supported and attended the annual fashion show at NDSU,” Anna Lee, an instructor in the Apparel, Retail Merchandising and Design program, told The Forum. “The students’ work really had a chance to shine thanks to everyone involved — the audience included.”
From freshmen to seniors,
students gave it their all preparing for the show,
which was bursting with energy and creativity. The show’s larger-than-life florals added to the appeal, giving audience members plenty of brilliant blooms to enjoy as students and designers walked the runway.
“I am looking forward to what the future brings for all of our talented students, as they have shown us they have what it takes to bring a collaborative vision to life,” Lee added.
North Dakota State University design student Elyza Lilly models a dress from her Senior Collection on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, during “Community Garden: A Fashion Show in Bloom,” the annual student-led fashion show held at NDSU’s Oceti Sakowin Ballroom.
Anna Paige / The Forum
North Dakota State University student Sofia Astolfi wears a design by Apparel, Retail Merchandising and Design program student designer Charli Dlugosh for the Joy Studio Project on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, during “Community Garden: A Fashion Show in Bloom,” the annual student-led fashion show held at NDSU’s Oceti Sakowin Ballroom.
Anna Paige / The Forum
North Dakota State University student Molly Smith models a reversible jacket designed by Apparel, Retail Merchandising and Design program student Grace Helm for the Joy Studio Project on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, during “Community Garden: A Fashion Show in Bloom,” the annual student-led fashion show held at NDSU’s Oceti Sakowin Ballroom.
Anna Paige / The Forum
North Dakota State University design student Samantha Haakenson walks the runway Wednesday, April 29, 2026, showcasing her own design for her Senior Collection during “Community Garden: A Fashion Show in Bloom,” the annual student-led fashion show held at NDSU’s Oceti Sakowin Ballroom.
Anna Paige / The Forum
North Dakota State University student Kayleah Fleury, who is studying apparel, retail merchandising and design, models her own design Wednesday, April 29, 2026, during “Community Garden: A Fashion Show in Bloom,” the annual student-led fashion show held at NDSU’s Oceti Sakowin Ballroom.
Anna Paige / The Forum
Hadley Thoreson, who is studying apparel, retail merchandising and design at North Dakota State University, wears a dress she designed made of reclaimed denim Wednesday, April 29, 2026, during “Community Garden: A Fashion Show in Bloom,” the annual student-led fashion show held at NDSU’s Oceti Sakowin Ballroom.
Anna Paige / The Forum
Lauren Landowski walks the runwa Wednesday, April 29, 2026, showcasing a design from the Senior Collection of student designer Crystal Rounsville during “Community Garden: A Fashion Show in Bloom,” the annual student-led fashion show held at NDSU’s Oceti Sakowin Ballroom.
Anna Paige / The Forum
North Dakota State University student Jamie Vavra models a design by Hadley Thoreson, who is studying apparel, retail merchandising and design, on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, during “Community Garden: A Fashion Show in Bloom,” the annual student-led fashion show held at NDSU’s Oceti Sakowin Ballroom.
Anna Paige / The Forum
Camden Shank wears a design from the Senior Collection of North Dakota State University student designer Elyza Lilly on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, during “Community Garden: A Fashion Show in Bloom,” the annual student-led fashion show held at NDSU’s Oceti Sakowin Ballroom.
Anna Paige / The Forum
Tyler Martin wears a design from the Senior Collection of North Dakota State University design student designer Elyza Lilly on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, during “Community Garden: A Fashion Show in Bloom,” the annual student-led fashion show held at NDSU’s Oceti Sakowin Ballroom.
Anna Paige / The Forum
Anna Paige is a photojournalist, writer, poet and artist with a penchant for storytelling. She’s the Photo Editor at the Forum and moved to Fargo in 2024 after spending two decades in Montana where she worked as a journalist for several statewide outlets.
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