Iowa State wins award from nation’s leading collegiate licensing company 

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State University was honored by the nation’s leading collegiate licensing company, CLC, with the Best Campus Integration award for launching the Cyclones Take New York design competition last fall. 

“Cyclones Take New York gives students the opportunity to use the fashion forecasting, market research and fashion design skills they’re learning in class and then apply them to a project that could ultimately end up on store shelves,” said Emily M.S. Worrall, instructor at Innovate 1858 and recent doctoral graduate of ISU’s apparel, merchandising and design program. 

As part of the competition, students pitch their research and designs to a panel of judges. The winning designs are then produced by a partner vendor and the student creators earn a trip to New York Fashion Week where they take part in CLC’s U of NYFW student enrichment program. 

What stands out about Iowa State’s program is the collaboration among units to create a program that gives students a one-of-a-kind career learning opportunity. 

“When I brought this idea to our fashion program and Innovate 1858, they immediately saw the benefit of making this competition a reality,” said Ben Vinar, assistant director of Trademark Licensing. 

Worrall and Vinar mapped out a competition and engaged partners in the College of Health and Human Sciences, Athletics and Procurement Services to make the first season of Cyclones Take New York a reality. 

Now wrapping up the second season with a planned product launch in the fall, planning has already started for season three. 

“This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the students. Attending New York Fashion Week and having their products sold in-store is a dream that most people never get to achieve. Watching the students achieve these dreams is one of the most rewarding aspects of this program,” shared Worrall. 

“One of the best parts of my job is seeing an idea become a finished product on a retailer’s shelf. Being able to witness the students experience the same sensation when their design ends up in retail is very rewarding,” said Vinar. “I am looking forward to keeping the momentum going when season three kicks off in the fall. Stay tuned!” 

Sales from season one of Cyclones Take New York surpassed $12,000 and sold nearly 400 units. 

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