For the last 40 years, the Cornell Fashion Collective (CFC) has put on the Spring Runway Show in March. CFC is a student-run organization that gives students across Cornell, both in and out of the fashion major, an opportunity to work in a fashion environment.
The Spring Runway Show is now enjoyed by around 2,000 attendees composed of Cornell alumni, staff, students and friends and family of the designers. But, what really goes into putting on a fashion show at Cornell University? Ahead of the show on March 22, 2025, I spoke with a few members of the CFC Executive Board on how they are bringing it all together in the days leading up to the show.
Ana Mocklar is a junior studying Information Science in Cornell’s College of Human Ecology. She serves as the Level 3 and 4 Designer Director for Cornell Fashion Collective. Level 3 and 4 Designers put together four to six looks for the show. Through her role, Mocklar helps these designers stay on track with their collections for the show. Designers begin working on their looks in the fall semester. “There is more than 6 months of work behind each runway look.”
Mocklar, herself, is designing a collection for the CFC Spring Runway Show. “Sometimes I am up ‘til 1 or 2 in the morning. It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s so worth it for the end result!” For a sneak peak into her collection, I asked Mocklar about her inspiration for her collection. “I was really inspired by insects after taking two entomology courses here at Cornell! For this collection I got to play with a lot of embellishments and finishing.”
Cornell Fashion Collective is a group that prides itself on creativity. The creative vision for the spring show is key in helping designers create their designs, guiding the business operations team in choosing collaborations and keeping consistency across social platforms and physical signage. I spoke with Maria Fernanda Serra Almeida Leite, CFC Creative Director, about how she maintains the creative vision of the show during the chaos of show prep. With this year's show, Leite wanted to share the world of design and CFC with people outside the fashion program. “I want the crowd to be immersed into an evening of fashion,” Leite said.
In the days leading up to the show, Leite wears many creative and positional hats. She makes sure pamphlets, signs and banners are printed, backstage is organized and music is chosen. On top of her creative director responsibilities, like Mocklar, Leite is also putting together a collection for the show. I asked how she manages it all, “I’m working super hard to have all my garments done a week before. It does take a village to put this together and everyone is putting in tons of work. I think right now are the most stressful moments!”
March 22, on the day of the show, it is an all-day affair. However, most show attendees don’t ever get a look backstage at what is really going on. “A lot of people might think that backstage is super organized, but I’ve had to help friends sew their models into their clothes 5 minutes before the model is supposed to be walking,” Leite said. Despite this, Leite thrives in the chaos of backstage show prep. “You are running on so much adrenaline and excitement! Don’t get me wrong there are pins and sewing needles everywhere, everyone is still putting finishing touches while models are already walking out on the runway.”
The culture of Cornell Fashion Collective thrives on collaboration and relationships. Without the work of all the teams, it’s evident the show wouldn’t come together. CFC Co-President, Julia Roos understands this more than most. She helps oversee the organization of all teams, and alongside Mattie Nyguen, fellow CFC Co-President, they steer this ship of this whole operation. They started preparing for this show during the summer before this academic year.
“The magic of CFCs Spring Runway show lies in its ability to unite the Cornell community in a celebration of creativity,” said Roos. In CFC, everyone’s roles matter, no matter how big or small. As Roos notes, “the show reminds us that passion and dedication can thrive anywhere, inspiring students across campus to embrace their unique talents and pursue their passions with enthusiasm and commitment.” The hard work of the CFC team is difficult to capture in one article, but their dedication will likely pay off with the presentation of the Runway show itself.
On March 22, 2025, in Barton Hall, the Cornell Spring Runway Show will take place. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show begins promptly at 7 p.m. Tickets are still on sale.
Dani Mendell is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at dlm357@cornell.edu.
