We are delighted to invite artists, designers, and teams to apply for the 2026 Carbondale Arts Fashion Show, one of Carbondale’s most exciting annual events. This dynamic production showcases local and regional talent through designers, models, dancers, performers, and multimedia storytelling, and consistently sells out with more than 600 tickets each night. To learn more and view recordings of past shows, visit carbondalearts.com/fashion-show.
This year we are excited to announce a few updates that include changes in the creative and technical team as well as some interesting twists to the format. For designers much will remain the same with the application and show.
- While designs are not required to fit the theme, a close alignment between designs and show theme makes for a compelling and cohesive show, so we encourage designers to consider the theme when submitting applications
- We are developing a design review committee that will consider designer applications using a series of review criteria to help guide decisions. We’re using a new platform, Jotform, so you can include images with your submission.
DESIGNER ELIGIBILITY
Artists, designers, and teams who have experience working in fashion, textiles, graphic, and industrial design are encouraged to apply. Out-of-state and international applications are accepted with a priority given to Colorado-based applicants.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Contact information
- Design concept description or narrative (between 250-500 words)
- Supporting visuals of the proposed line (up to 5 images)
- Samples of previous work (up to 5 images)
- Line details (number of looks, model sizing and gender information, specific requests)
- Application fee
REVIEW CRITERIA
Sustainability: Clothing must be sustainably created using a combination of ethically sourced, sustainable fabrics, up-cycled, and/or recycled materials made by the applying designer or in a fair trade and/or locally-sourced scenario. Please tell us about your approach and include details in your description.
Size Inclusive Clothing: This show is rooted in community, celebrates diversity and strives to be broadly inclusive. To this end, Carbondale Arts works with amateur, volunteer models from the community and cares deeply about presenting all bodies types in the fashion show. Designs must be available or adjustable for a wide range of shapes and sizes. Please consider this in the model sizing section of the application and note how you are able to accommodate a range of body types.
Thematic Relevance: While clothes do not necessarily have to be designed around the theme of the show, we are encouraging a creative synergy between all aspects of the show. This year’s theme is Step Right Up:
The 2026 Fashion Extravaganza will be an immersive experience filled with all that you’d expect from a night at the Carnival! Fashion, dance, music, visuals, aerials, and ambience will be vibrant, indulgent, thrilling and nostalgic. The “carnival” our audience experiences will also be a metaphor for curated distortions of reality and a world designed to steal our attention. Step Right Up will invite all of us to see what it's like inside the spectacle and emerge changed.
Please describe any connection to the theme in your design concept description.
TIMELINE (tentative dates, subject to change)
Designer application opens: October 3rd, 2025
Application deadline: December 5th, 2025
Designers notified of acceptance: no later than December 19th, 2025
Designer check-in: February 2nd-6th, 2026
Lines due: Friday March 7th 2026
Show Dates: March 12-14th 2026
ADDITIONAL INFO
Models, hair and makeup, music, and runway blocking will all be provided for you. Hair and makeup will be styled for the show as a whole, as models will appear in more than one designer’s collection.
All designers/designer teams receive 2 complimentary tickets to the show. These are based on availability, and we may not be able to accommodate your first choice.
For more information contact info@carbondalearts.com.