Product Runway

(Image source: Style.com)

The University of Oregon’s chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) has been more active recently than it has been in years. A case in point was its Architecture Trivia Night this past January. Another is its upcoming “Product Runway” fashion show, which it is producing in partnership with the student chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).

The Product Runway event will take place Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at Lawrence Hall on the University of Oregon campus. The organizers describe the show as an opportunity for building materials manufacturers and sales representatives to promote their products by furnishing them to participating students for the purpose of creating unique and exciting pieces of clothing. The goal is for the students to explore the intrinsic properties of the materials in a creative and fun way. By crafting couture garments from products found in real-world architecture and interior design projects (such as carpet, acrylic, vinyl flooring, tile, or plastic laminates) the students will prove that these materials can look just as good on the fashion runway as they do in a building.(1)

The students are actively seeking sponsorship and donation of materials in advance of the show. If you’re interested in helping out, contact AIAS Treasurer Kent Wu at kwu1@uoregon.edu or event director Sarah Tiedecken at stiedeke@uoregon.edu. The AIAS and IIDA student chapters are selling sponsorships at $50 apiece, which includes advertising on fliers and the opportunity to represent your business at the event. The students would also be very appreciative of donated materials. If you wish to donate materials, please call Kent at (971) 506-1227 to arrange materials to be picked up or delivered to the University.

Send your sponsorship check to:

American Institute of Architecture Students
381B Lawrence Hall
1206 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403

Product Runway sounds like great fun, so see and be seen at Lawrence Hall on May 12th and join your fellow followers of fabulous fashion. I wonder if Heidi Klum will show up . . .

(1) Various Product Runway events have been produced by IIDA chapters in Houston, Seattle, and elsewhere. In contrast to the UO production, these other Product Runway productions typically involve local architecture and interior design professionals rather than students.