Designers:

Athena Baumgartner – Sewing Different

Athena Baumgartner is the artist and maker behind Sewing Different, where every piece of wearable textile art tells a story of creativity, resilience, and renewal. Growing up, frequent childhood illnesses meant Athena spent countless hours with her Grandmothers, Great-Grandmothers, and Great-Great Grandmothers. Each woman shared her own sewing techniques, artistic style, and love of creating by hand, laying the foundation for a lifelong passion that has been passed down through generations. Coming from an artistic family on both sides, Athena was surrounded by creativity from an early age. Today, she honors that legacy by transforming recycled and repurposed textiles into one-of-a-kind wearable works of art.

She believes every fabric has a history worth preserving and every garment has the potential to become something extraordinary. Through Sewing Different, Athena combines traditional sewing skills with imagination and sustainable practices, creating pieces that celebrate individuality while giving discarded materials and beautiful second life. Her work reflects the values passed down through generations: Craftsmanship, resourcefulness, and the belief that beauty can be found in unexpected places. Athena is honored to share her work in this exhibition and hopes her creations inspire others to embrace creativity, celebrate their own stories, and see the extraordinary possibilities hidden within the ordinary.

TQ Marie

TQ’s fashion journey started with making matching mommy and me outfits for herself and her daughter. That led to a full-blown business. She was sewing full time when the only plan she had was to make matching mommy and me outfits.

Alejandra Licona – Ale Designs

Alejandra Licona, is 51 years old, a mother of 2 successful kids, and a grandmother of 4 marvelous grandkids. My brand is called Ale Designs, and her interest in fashion started when she was a child. With the help of her mother and grandmother she learned how to sew and remembers her first designs being dresses for her toy dolls and she would sell them at school. In her teenage years, she felt the need to seek her own fashion sense. She would shop at thrift stores where she had the ability to redesign pieces to create something unique as a way to express herself.

Today she firmly believes that we can dress stylishly regardless of age and also that colors don't have gender. With her brand, she wants to inspire people to find their style and feel comfortable because you only get one unique piece, specially made for each person who wants to look different and special. Throughout the years, she has learned that Famous brands only prove you're using something expensive, but money cannot buy style.

Sarah Harris

Sarah Harris is the founder and designer behind Midwest Mom Collection, a clothing brand rooted in sustainability, individuality, inclusivity, and thoughtful craftsmanship. Her love of creating began at home, where her grandmother taught her to sew and her mother taught her to knit. Through Midwest Mom Collection, Sarah designs and constructs original garments using primarily thrifted, vintage, secondhand, and remnant materials. She is drawn to fabrics with a past and enjoys transforming overlooked materials into clothing that feels expressive, unexpected, and entirely new. Sarah also believes clothing can be a form of self-expression and advocacy. She incorporates messages into her work that reflect political movements and social issues that are personally meaningful to her, using fashion as another way to encourage conversation and individuality.

For the past three years, Sarah has sold her clothing at the YLNI Farmers Market, where she has had the opportunity to connect directly with her community and share her approach to sustainable, handmade fashion. At the heart of Midwest Mom Collection is Sarah’s belief that clothing should be made for living, not labeling. Her work celebrates personal style, inclusive fashion, and the freedom to wear what makes you feel most like yourself. This runway show marks an exciting new chapter for Sarah and Midwest Mom Collection, bringing her work from the market to the runway.

Stacey Cooner – Soul Threading

Stacey Cooney is a multidisciplinary artist and fashion designer with a BFA in Fashion Design from Columbia College Chicago and a minor in Photography. While photography has been a major part of her career, her creative practice also includes design, painting, and writing. Her approach to fashion centers on simplicity, comfort, and thoughtful craftsmanship. Many of the fabrics are repurposed from thrift stores, giving existing textiles new life. Through this collection, Stacey brings together her love of fashion and art, exploring anthotype - an alternative process of photography using the sun as a way to print on the fabric - all while honoring sustainability, experimentation, and the beauty of wearable art.

Lydia Waring – The Other Aunt Lydia

Lydia Waring is a Fort Wayne resident with a lifelong love of ‘all things fashion and styling’. The theme of her collection today is "Melancholic Metallics" and represents her love of dark themes and the art of clothing design. She regularly posts her outfits to her social media pages and seeks inspiration all around to build her next outfit.

Jae McGee

Style. Home. Art is a multidisciplinary fashion and creative brand founded by designer Jae McGee, bringing together fashion, art, and styling through a distinct conceptual point of view. With an emphasis on imagination and storytelling, each collection explores a new idea through expressive silhouettes, cohesive details, and a strong appreciation of color. The brand approaches fashion as a form of creative expression, creating pieces that balance individuality, glamour, and a touch of mischief.

Pinky Saunders – Sew Pinky

Pinky Saunders is a self-taught seamstress, fashion designer, youth mentor, and entrepreneur who believes creativity is a powerful tool for confidence, connection, and growth. As the founder and owner of Sew Pinky (pronounced So Pink-ee), Pinky expresses her love of art through clothing in unconventional and unexpected ways, creating pieces that tell stories and celebrate individuality. Through Sew Pinky, she uses fashion, pageantry, and creative expression to inspire confidence, leadership, self-expression, and personal growth. She has a special passion for beauty pageants and creating opportunities for girls to showcase their talents and shine on the big stage.

A Double Dutch and jump rope enthusiast, Pinky also uses movement, play, and youth engagement to connect with her community. Pinky is the founder of HUG: Health, Unity & Growth, a nonprofit that mentors youth through gardening, farming, and hands-on community experiences. Through HUG, young people learn about healthy living, where their food comes from, teamwork, and the importance of caring for themselves, each other, and their community. Pinky believes every child deserves to feel seen, valued, and empowered to recognize their potential. So whether she's behind a sewing machine, mentoring a young person, planting in the garden, or creating a new community initiative, Pinky leads with creativity, purpose, and heart. (A certified yoga instructor and dedicated yoga student, Pinky believes in finding balance in life. She finds her balance through gardening, stopping to smell the flowers, and by enjoying a nice big piece of cheddar cheese, just maybe not at the same time!)

Bella Alonzo

Belle Alonzo is a sophomore attending Ball State University pursuing a degree in Fashion Industry Studies where she hopes to one day open a small town boutique all about modest and size inclusive clothing.

Amber Hehl and the Easy Tiger team—Ursula Erin and Rebecca Good

Easy Tiger is an eclectic space, centered on connection, no perfectionism, and evolution. Everything they do revolves around their shared goal of community, and a safe space for those who feel ‘othered’.