When she peered out at Millett Hall on April 29, bedazzled with 1,700 fashionably-dressed people in the audience, she knew the show for Miami University’s largest student organization looked just right.

Ashley Kramer, senior marketing and fashion double major, serves as president of Miami University Fashion and Design (MUF&D) and chose the perfect theme for its 17th annual event – Ethereal. Coming away from last year’s first in-person show since the pandemic, which won Miami’s 2023 Student Engagement, Activities and Leadership award for Event of the Year, she wanted to completely raise the stakes this year. 

So, she and MUF&D changed the runway layout, more selectively hired their models and designers and booked 12 student businesses for its trunk show beforehand. 

“We were really able to elevate the level of professionalism and quality of work this year and still keep it fun,” Kramer said. 

Once elected into her role around May 2022, Kramer worked on the vision for the theme throughout the summer, then acquired sponsors, fundraised, planned decor and everything else over the course of the year. 

Kramer defines Ethereal as “extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world” and “the concept of being in a wonderful place, as well as paradise and happiness in this world.” She settled on it with her vice president Abigail Solano after they reflected on MUF&D’s countless opportunities and positive influence throughout their four years of involvement.

“[MUF&D] has always been this sort of heaven on earth,” Kramer said. “I think I can speak for our executive board as well as our members that MUF&D is an escape and true source of happiness.”  

Now that the curtains have closed on MUF&D’s Ethereal and Kramer graduated, she imagines a bright future for the org.

“This show was the most rewarding experience in all of college for me,” Kramer said. “Seeing our vision come to life and our hard work pay off was an indescribable feeling.”