Wild Collective is one of the clothing brands participating in the second annual Buckeye Fall Fashion Market on Thursday. Credit: Provided by Drex Agency
Ohio Stadium is usually known for hosting Ohio State football games, but on Thursday it will be transformed into a fashion runway.
Ohio State’s 2nd Annual Buckeye Fashion Market — Students and Buckeye fans can shop officially licensed products from more than 20 featured brands including Lusso, Established & Co., The Wild Collective, Wrangler, and the Ohio State Team Shop The Ohio State Goods Shopping Event — is back. The event will be held Thursday at the Huntington Club’s Shoe from 4 to 8 p.m.
Kathleen Jones, Ohio State Marketing Program Coordinator, said this year’s event will be different from last year as more experiential elements will be added to the evening.
“The blowout bar comes in and does the hairstyling,” Jones said. “We also added a VIP section, so people can go upstairs and have their own little section. There will be cocktail tastings, an interactive jewelry station, and guests can buy women’s apparel worn by the models. A fashion showcase is also planned.
Anna Vonderhaar, director of marketing at Ohio State University, said this year’s flow was created in response to feedback received after the 2023 fashion market.
“Last year was definitely a learning year for us,” Vonderhaar said. “After our first event, we conducted a survey to get feedback from our guests. We took that seriously and have acted to perfect the event, but we hope this event continues to grow each year. I just hope.”
Vanderhaar said the original creation of Fashion Marketplace was aimed at bridging the gender gap that existed in the women’s licensing industry.
“There’s a saying in the industry, ‘Pink it and shrink it,’ where you make a product for men, and then to make it for women, you make it pink and make it smaller, or you make it pink and make it smaller, or you make it with rhinestones that you think women would want.” ,” Vonderhaar said. “It’s no longer representative of our lifestyle. We’ve always wanted to make sure the women’s category gets as much attention and attention as the other categories.”
Vonderhaar said the variety of products available was her favorite element of the event.
“In addition to apparel, we’re most excited to introduce the amazing jewelry and accessories, homewares, and children’s products we have,” said Vonderhaar.
As one of five all-female team members hosting the event, Jones said she is most looking forward to the new VIP experience they have worked so hard to organize.
“We put a lot of effort into this and tried to make it a creative and really good experience for everyone who bought a ticket,” Jones said. “This is an opportunity for people who wouldn’t normally be able to get into a space like the NetJet lounge to be able to see it. You can sit down and see the stadium when it’s empty, which is something a lot of people have never experienced before.”
Ultimately, Vonderhaar said she hopes the event comes to fruition in a way that empowers women.
“It’s a special night to celebrate these brands and celebrate the Buckeye women’s community,” Vonderhaar said.
VIP tickets are already sold out, but $25 general admission tickets are still available on Ohio State’s website. Current Ohio State students can enroll for free using BuckID.
