Ninety models, 75 hair and makeup artists, 21 retail stores, 11 student designers, eight planning meetings and one fantastic final show.

Much goes into Fashion, Apparel and Business Organization’s annual fashion show, and the group is working to make their 15th anniversary show a step above the rest. The show starts noon Wednesday in the Great Plains Ballroom and is free to all attendees.

Since FABO’s first fashion show in 2002, the theme has always set the tone. The first show was centered on the fashion police in “The Cuffs Will Clash.” “Red Carpet Renegade” brought class to campus in 2006, “Passport to Fashion” took viewers around the world in 2008 and “Puttin’ on the Ritz” showed a 1920s twist on 2010 style.

This year’s main theme is “Be YOUnique: This is Your Time.” FABO also incorporated five underlying subthemes this year to make it special: Whimsical Garden Party, Athletica, Downtown Playground, Business Professional and Glam.

“We’re using the idea that you can take inspiration and put it all together to make something your own,” fashion show co-coordinator Johnny Marquez said.

The show will showcase looks from Fargo retailers like Kittsona, Express, Proper & Prim, Evereve, Scheels, Buckle and Wedding Elegance.

When FABO first starts planning for the show in January, it breaks up into committees to make each element of their show come together. The stores and models committee recruit and then style outfits that represent the stores and their assigned subthemes.

Hair and makeup committee members collaborate with students at Josef’s School of Hair Design to come up with styles that complement the outfits and create a cohesive look for the show.

Members also participate on committees for music, slideshow, set design, choreography and public relations to make sure every detail is thought through.

There is also a student design portion of the show where students in fashion design classes get to show off their original creations. Taylor Markel, a designer featured in the show and chair of FABO’s student designs committee, hopes the audience will gain an understanding of the time, effort and passion that goes into their designs, noting how taking design classes has opened her own eyes to the designer’s process.

“I will never look at clothing construction the same way,” she said. “From a spectator’s view at the fashion show, they’ll think for maybe a minute or however long the garment is on the runway, ‘Wow that’s a pretty skirt’ or ‘That’s a great top.’

“Little do they know how much actually goes into that. So it’s really just amazing to see and understand both sides of the coin.”

Before and after the show, attendees are encouraged to take a look at the Apparel, Design and Hospitality Management Student Project Showcase outside the Ballroom in the Hidatsa Room. There they can see what students have been working on throughout the year and view the student designers’ inspirations and process pictures.

In conjunction with the fashion show, FABO will also be taking donations for Stepping Stones Resource Center, a program through Fraser that provides shelter, basic necessities and guidance to young adults in need. FABO will collect men’s and women’s clothing and personal care items at a contact table in the Union. The table started Thursday and ends Tuesday and at the show.

Marquez said attending the show is a great way to see what Fargo has to offer and to get inspired.

“You get to see something that a lot of students put a lot of time and effort into,” he said, “and I just think it’s a good way to see things in the area. Some people, as first or second years, don’t really expand beyond the NDSU campus and the downtown area, so it’s a good way to see what things we have to offer, different stores, different looks.”

For a sneak peak of what will strut down the runway this year, you can like NDSU FABO on Facebook and follow ndsu.fabo on Instagram to read student designer biographies and get updates leading up to the show.