Annual Apparel Merchandising Enclothe Fashion Show April 30

ENCLOTHE, the annual fashion show featuring garments created by U of A apparel merchandising and product development students, returns to the Fayetteville Public Library on April 30.

This year's show is themed "Circuit 2026." 

The event showcases garments designed and created by students and allows guests to see the business, sustainability and merchandising aspects of what students learn. Producing the show provides students with experience and connections in the apparel industry.

ENCLOTHE: Circuit 2026 is set for one show at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., and no admittance allowed after 7:10 p.m. A VIP mixer is set for 6-6:45 p.m.

Ticket package and sponsorship information is here. Tickets can be ordered here. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Prices are $25 for students, $50 for a single ticket and $100 for two. Packages include Signal Supporter for $500 (six guests, preferred seating, reserved lounge with food and drinks, and logo in program); VIP Voltage for $1,000 (eight guests, premium seating, priority access to reserved lounge with food and drinks, and logo in program); Electric Elite for $5,000 (same as VIP Voltage, but for 16 guests); and Power Plant for $10,000 (30 guests, "presented by" acknowledgement, premium seating, priority access to reserved lounge with food and drinks, and logo in program).

The theme comes from the definition of circuit: "a complete and closed loop in which a circulating electric current can flow, the foundation of connectivity and transmitting information; the intersection of craft and code."

Jonah Graham, a second-year graduate student and instructor in apparel merchandising and product development, is the student director of the show.

"This year, I am really interested in the combination of technical sewing skills with digital software, which a large portion of my thesis revolves around," he says. "In creating the garments for the fashion show, students are taught VStitcher, a complex software that allows for 3-D digital pattern drafting and development."

Graham, who is from Long Beach, California, was a student designer in the last three ENCLOTHE shows. He is pursuing a career in fashion design and/or education.

"We plan to utilize old TV screens to display images of 3-D/4-D body scans from students wearing their garments, as well as PSA information regarding the waste production in our industry," Graham says. "We are using this as an equal opportunity to reflect what we do in the classroom, while also making a commentary on the negatives of the industry."

Any AMPD student is allowed to apply to present their work in the show, but most garments are designed, patterned and created in the Advanced Apparel class taught by senior instructor Stephanie Hubert.

"Jonah Graham is one of the most dedicated graduate students we have ever had in our program," Hubert says. "He is creative, organized and a pleasure to be around. I look forward to this show because I know it will have his special touch sewn into the fabric of the entire event."

Many of the students are in the Fashion Show Theory and Production class, which is taught by Graham.

Sarah Hixson, assistant professor, remains active in the show as faculty adviser.

"I am so proud of Jonah's work on this show," Hixson says. "He's dedicated so much time and effort to making the event impactful, and even more to making the course dynamic and exciting for the students. I can't wait to see all their hard work pay off."

"Leading ENCLOTHE allows me to broaden my experience with creative direction, event coordination and team management," he says. "I'm hoping to one day become half as good a professor as Dr. Hixson and Mrs. Hubert. My team is working incredibly hard to make this event different from past shows, proving our footing and evolution as a program."

Other student leaders are Annalise Robins, the engagement producer leading the outreach and archive committees; Abigail Pennick, the logistics producer, leading the program and venue committees; Logan Lyons, the creative producer, leading the collaborator and aesthetic committees; Rachel Hickman, the embroidery producer, leading the Embroidery Committee; and Sam Peck, creative content lead, producing photoshoots and video content for the show.

As part of this year's "circuit" theme, the program is looking for donations of old technology such as CRT TVs and cables for staging, which can be returned following the show. To make a donation or provide use of equipment, contact Graham at jdg039@uark.edu.

The AMPD program is part of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Science's School of Human Environmental Sciences.

The program is once again collaborating with other students, including students in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the occupational therapy program in the College of Education and Health Professions.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.