On March 25, University of Central Missouri fashion student Campbell Mayers debuted her quilt-inspired collection for her brand CM Sewing on the Kansas City Fashion Week runway. According to Melissa Abner, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Fashion, this marked one of the program’s most visible student achievements this season. The sophomore designer transformed traditional quilt blocks into bright, colorful garments that appeared on the Union Station runway.

  “Quilted clothing wasn’t something I had seen at KCFW before, so I wanted to bring something new to the runway,” said Mayers.  

  Her collection featured star-patterned quilt blocks, vibrant color palettes of pink, orange, and yellow, and silhouettes designed to highlight playful, expressive dressing. One of her favorite pieces to create was a long quilted trench coat made from multicolored star blocks. Her interest in quilting developed recently and ultimately shaped the direction of her collection.

 “Campbell is really talented. She didn’t come here to learn how to sew or make patterns. She came here to learn how to create her own business and learn the big industry aspects. She has grown a lot and become more confident,” said Abner.

  Mayers began sewing at age ten and has continued developing her skills through classes, independent projects and professional opportunities. As she got older, she began teaching herself new techniques, building on what she learned throughout childhood. According to Abner, by the time she arrived at UCM, she was already creating her own patterns and sewing with advanced precision.

  “Campbell always had a natural eye for design. In youth classes, she would stick with the same color palette or try to incorporate a theme throughout all of her projects like a mini collection. As she developed her skills, it became clear that she wasn’t just following instructions, she was thinking like a designer, making intentional choices and developing her own style,” said Catherine Bell, Mayer’s previous sewing instructor and designer.

  Mayers first joined KCFW as an ambassador, a volunteer role that allowed her to work behind the scenes and observe the production process up close. During that first season, she watched another UCM student present a collection, an experience she credits with inspiring her to apply as a designer. 

    “I’ve always been a creative person and ever since I learned how to sew when I was young, I knew I wanted to pursue a more creative career in my future. Seeing a project come to life and feeling proud that I made it myself is really motivating for me. That sense of accomplishment is a big part of why I chose fashion as my major and future career,” said Mayers.

  Faculty support played a key role in her journey. Although the collection was created independently, Abner assisted Mayers with her designer application and served as her backstage assistant during the show. 

  “As we have more students design and show their collections, get internships and roles within the organization [KCFW], I think they’ll really start to see that this all just started with signing up as a volunteer and writing with my professor to a fashion show.”

  KCFW offers ways to network professionally and get involved within the fashion industry. This includes volunteering at the event, photographing the shows, presenting a collection as a designer, working as a hair or makeup artist or modeling. Anyone interested can connect directly with KCFW through their website.

  “I would recommend being a designer in KCFW to other fashion students. It is a lot of work but it is so rewarding in the end,” said Mayers. 

  The UCM Fashion Department also communicates opportunities like KFCW through its social media pages and in-class updates. For information about similar events, visit the UCM Fashion page, or contact Abner directly at [email protected] 

  To view Mayers’ work or contact her through her business, visit her Instagram page, @c.m.sewing