A Newsletter of the Department of Apparel, Events,

and Hospitality Management

Welcome to the final AESHM Updates of 2024!

This issue is packed with highlights that showcase the creativity, talent, and hard work of our AESHM students, faculty, and staff.

Feature Story: Take a behind-the-scenes look at Innovate 1858’s Maker Market, where AMD majors Ashlyn Carnes and Owen Abrahamsen share how they helped organize this incredible showcase of Iowa State student- and alumni-owned businesses.

We’re also diving into two inspiring November events:

• The Conference Confidence
• The Tearoom’s Fine Dining Series

And don’t forget—The Fashion Show 2025 is just around the corner! To get you excited, we chatted with Grace Terry, a fashion communications major, about her experience as a model in one of the nation’s largest student-run fashion shows.

There's so much to celebrate, reflect on, and look forward to—keep reading for all the details!

Feature

The Makers of Tomorrow

At Innovate 1858, innovation doesn’t just happen—it takes center stage. With this winter’s Maker’s Market wrapped up, don’t be surprised to see the next wave of entrepreneurs lining up at Innovate’s door. We sat down with two Innovate 1858 employees to better understand this iconic event as they shared insights on how the Maker’s Market came to life and the passion that continues to fuel its success.

Innovate 1858 is a student-run retail store offering students a unique, hands-on experience running a small business. With the slogan “For Cyclones, by Cyclones,” Innovate’s mission is to support Iowa State students with resources, mentorship, and opportunities to grow their businesses. The store features products created by Cyclones and proudly aligns with Iowa State’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across campus.

Launched just last fall, the bi-annual Maker’s Market has quickly become a highlight of Innovate’s offerings. Ashlyn Carnes, multi-channel lead director for Innovate 1858, explains that passion and creativity are the event’s driving forces. But what makes this event so impactful, and how does it leave its mark on the community? Let’s dive in.

According to Owen Abrahamsen, visual merchandising and events manager at Innovate, the Maker’s Market “is an event to celebrate the makers we have for Innovate and give these small, startup businesses a chance to sell their products to a larger audience.” Vendors showcase their handmade products to the Iowa State and Ames communities, who eagerly stop by to shop and show their support.

Behind the event’s continued success lies immense work and dedication from the Innovate team. “From reaching out to vendors and confirming their participation to securing the event space and setting up the venue, there are many moving parts,” Ashlyn shared. The logistics involve everything from developing a theme that aligns with Innovate’s mission to ordering decorations and revising contracts. “There’s a lot of minute details that you wouldn’t think go into something like this,” Owen added. The team’s collaboration ensures every aspect runs smoothly, creating an exceptional experience for vendors and attendees alike.

The Maker’s Market’s impact goes far beyond sales. “It provides a platform to showcase small businesses while giving young student entrepreneurs valuable real-world experience in product sales, event participation, inventory prep, and customer service,” Ashlyn explained. Innovate ensures vendors are well-prepared by sharing contracts, marketing resources, and other tools to set them up for success. These efforts underscore Innovate’s role as a nurturing environment for emerging entrepreneurs.

“The market’s influence extends beyond Innovate 1858’s goals,” Owen noted. “It’s about giving more opportunities to student entrepreneurs, alumni entrepreneurs, and small businesses in general.” These events allow participants to expand their customer base and hone essential skills, from product pitches to customer engagement. “It’s incredible to see the passion and creativity that vendors pour into their products,” Ashlyn added.

This season’s Maker’s Market featured standout vendors like C’est La Crêpe with its handcrafted crepes, and Piper Rose Sewing’s beautiful creations. Attendees left with hands full of handcrafted goods and hearts full of inspiration. “The market celebrates Iowa State’s innovative spirit and is a wonderful opportunity to connect with ISU entrepreneurs,” Ashlyn shared. For Owen, the best part is the sense of community. “I love planning and decorating, but seeing families and friends come together makes it all worthwhile.”



With another successful Maker’s Market in the books, its impact continues to resonate. By supporting student and alumni entrepreneurs, Innovate 1858 creates meaningful opportunities for makers to grow their businesses and share their talents. These markets inspire entrepreneurship, foster connections, and strengthen the Cyclone community. With passion and hard work at its core, the Maker’s Market is a shining example of what can be achieved when innovation takes center stage.

Recap:

The Conference Confidence

The Conference, Iowa State University’s premier student-led event, concluded another successful year at the Student Innovation Center on November 13th with its theme “Confidence”. Since 2019, this annual gathering has grown to attract over 150 participants from ISU and Ames communities, offering a dynamic mix of keynote presentations, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities that celebrate innovation and professional growth.

Jamie Beyer, the teaching professor, and the course instructor of EVENT4860 shared her enthusiasm about this year’s achievements: “This year we had the highest student enrollment in the course, which facilitated the expansion and enhancement of both the event and related programming. This includes a record number of event registrants and attendees, new partnerships across campus, and an elevated pre-event experience with three pop-up events that took place throughout the entire campus.”

Taylor Chapdelaine, a student member of the Registration Team, offered insight into the behind-the-scenes work: “Helping plan and execute The Conference: Confidence has been one of my favorite college experiences. From managing the website and organizing sign-ups to coordinating volunteer schedules, this experience showcased the importance of teamwork and flexibility in event management. Being a part of such a well-organized event was AESHM!”

The EVENT 4860 course, which serves as the foundation for this conference, provides students with a unique opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in a real-world setting. As Jamie noted, “The process is inherently one of growth, allowing us to identify both areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. I am very proud of how the students bring it all to life and pleased that they will leave the course with tangible experiences that will serve them well in their future careers in event management.”

From the welcoming registration at the Catwalk to the final thank-you’s at the Stepatorium, The Conference demonstrated the capabilities of ISU’s Event Management students while providing valuable networking and learning opportunities for all participants. This successful execution not only enhanced the educational experience of the organizing students but also strengthened the bonds within the ISU and Ames communities.

TFS Modeling

A successful fashion show is built on a meticulously planned modeling process that infuses creativity, style, and professionalism into every step. Grace Terry, a Junior in Apparel Merchandising and Design with a focus on fashion communications is in her third year as a model for Iowa State's annual Fashion Show. She offered valuable insights into the modeling process and shared how she gets ready for her moment in the spotlight on the runway.

AESHM: How did you hear about The Fashion Show?

Grace: "I looked into the AMD major here at Iowa State as a high school senior. I read all about their student-run fashion shows. It was inspiring and impressive how a department puts on such a successful show to highlight their students' work, put on by students."

AESHM: What made you want to get involved as a model?

Grace: "I wanted to be a voice and representation for plus-sized bodies in the fashion industry. I did it hoping that individuals of all shapes and sizes could see and realize that all bodies are beautiful and strong, no matter their appearance. All bodies deserve to be celebrated."

AESHM: What is the model casting process like?

Grace: "The process overall is smooth and stress-free. The Fashion Show posts the date, times, and locations of model casting via a link in their Instagram bio where you sign up for a time slot. You get to choose the day and time you attend. When you arrive, you're greeted and given a name tag with a number on it, and you fill out a basic questionnaire with your name, height, clothing preference, etc. You're then sent to get measured, and those are sent out to the designers to help them pick their models. They take you by number order, when you're called you're brought into a room with some Fashion Show directors. You give them your name, year, and major, and explain why you want to be a model. They then play some music, and you confidently walk, pose at the front, turn around, and walk back. Then you await an email of whether you were accepted."

AESHM: Do you have any other modeling experience, and how does this compare?

Grace: "I've never modeled before TFS but have been on stage, and they're very different. On the day of the show, you feel proud because you're doing this for yourself, and it's a fantastic opportunity you've been selected for. You want to do your best for the designer you're representing. Wearing and representing their hard work is a feeling and honor that can't be put into words."

AESHM: What are the steps from finding out you're a model to the day of the show?

Grace: "Model practices start in the spring semester and occur at the state gym every other week until about a week before the show. In March, there's a fit night where all the models meet, and the designers select who they want to model their garments. Near the end of March, there's a judging day, where professionals from all over the nation come to judge all the garments. As a model, you wear the garments you were chosen for during fit night and stand before the judges. This process selects exactly which garments will be in the show. Although not all garments are chosen, the directors ensure every model wears at least one garment. We also have two dress rehearsals before the show to perfect our walks for the day of the show."

AESHM: What does the day of the show look like?

Grace: "The day of the show is beyond exciting. Everyone's in a good mood, and positive energy radiates through the building. The garments are rolled out and ready to be put on. People are rushing around with excitement to prepare for the show's opening. You're assigned a rack with other models where your garments are and where you'll change in and out of outfits. When the show starts, backstage is quiet but lively. People are lined up, ready to walk, compliments flow, and memories are in the making".

AESHM: Do you experience any pre-show nerves, and how do you manage them?

Grace: "There are always going to be serves and excitement. You're in front of a crowd and want to do good for yourself and the designer you represent. Backstage, I try to remind myself that everyone else is most likely just as nervous as I am, but we are all there to have fun. We're working towards the show all semester and it's finally here. You want it to be as good as possible."

AESHM: Is there anything you can do to prepare outside of what's required as a model?

Grace: "I like to practice my walk and posture to feel comfortable walking in my heels before the show. Also, make connections with other models. This is such a great experience to meet new people and make friends."

From the casting process to the moment she steps onto the runway, Grace's modeling journey exemplifies the passion and preparation that go into making this event such an astounding success year after year.

Recap:

The Tearoom - Fine Dining

The Fall 2024 Fine Dining Series concluded with great success, featuring three distinct themed evenings - Italian Night, French Night, and Nikkei Night - each enhanced by new pre-dinner wine receptions and banquet-style seating arrangements that fostered a welcoming community atmosphere among guests throughout October and November.

For the students involved, the series provided invaluable hands-on experience in event planning and execution. Tanner, one of the participating students, shared his enthusiasm: “The fine dining experience was amazing this semester. The ability to not just learn about a region but also be able to plan an event based off that region was something I thoroughly enjoyed. From start to finish everything was executed perfectly.”

The series also offered opportunities for culinary exploration and innovation. Evelyn, who was part of the Nikkei team, described her unique experience working with the fusion of Peruvian and Japanese cuisines: “It was interesting to work with this cuisine because it was new to all of us, which allowed us to have a lot of creativity with choosing a menu and developing our recipes. I think it also allowed for a unique experience for guests and students because they could try a cuisine they hadn't had before.”

Chef Karla, who oversaw the series, expressed particular satisfaction with the student-driven nature of the events: “I especially loved that the students had full control of every aspect of the event. It was the complete student experience! I was also especially pleased to see the support of our ISU community and the families of our students attend each event!”



Looking back at these wonderful evenings, we are proud to see how our students brought their creativity and passion to life through these events. From perfecting new recipes to creating warm and welcoming spaces for our community to gather, they’ve shown what's possible when fresh ideas meet dedicated teamwork. We can't wait to see what future fine dining events will bring!