UA apparel studies students win design contest

Nov. 27, 2007

Contact Information:

Kathy Smith, School of Human Environmental Science, University of Arkansas
479-575-4307, kasmith@uark.edu

Howell Medders, Communications, U of A System Division of Agriculture
479-575-5647, hmedders@uark.edu.


apparel studies students who won cash prizes for their OZRX apparel brand designs OZRX DESIGNS -- University of Arkansas apparel studies students who won cash prizes for their OZRX apparel brand designs were, from left, Grace Kueser, Meredith Stanford, Maggie McGriff, Keith Caudle and Amanda James.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Students majoring in apparel studies in the School of Human Environmental Sciences at the University of Arkansas won four out of seven categories in a design contest sponsored by OZRX, a new apparel company based in Branson, Mo., that seeks to link Ozarks regional pride to the brand.

Owner Kathy Brockett said, "The basic OZRX logo is the foundation of the company’s product line, which will include T-shirts, hats, stickers and decals, among other items."

Brockett invited students from the UA apparel studies program and the fashion design program at Missouri State University in Springfield to enter designs in seven categories. Visitors to the OZRX Web site voted on designs by the 34 finalists from the two schools with a $1,000 prize for the winner in each category.

Winners announced during a special event at The Landing in Branson Nov. 10 included four Arkansas entries and three from Missouri State.

The University of Arkansas winners were:

Logo and slogan - Maggie McGriff of Seneca, Mo., and Meredith Stanford of Conway, Ark.;

Golf - Amanda James of Fort Worth, Texas;

Character theme - Keith Caudle of West Fork; and

Recreational theme - Grace Kueser of Overland Park, Kan.

The Missouri State winners in three category were: Pants, boxers and tote bags – Jessica Niehaus of Springfield, Mo.; Sweats – Jessica Niehaus; and Overall style – Cherrelle Hitchcock of Springfield.

Kathy Smith, University of Arkansas apparel studies instructor, said students worked on entries as projects in classes on visual merchandising, apparel design and textile designs.

"Next semester, we plan to broaden the OZRX idea and develop a retail concept store in our advanced merchandising class," Smith said.

Currently, Brockett uses a Web site, www.ozrx.com, for retail marketing, and she also wholesales merchandise to stores. Her next contest is a "print model search" for "anyone from 8 to 108." Winners will model OZRX merchandise on the Web site, in product brochures, signage and possible guest appearances.

"It was a lot of fun, a great learning experience and quite profitable for the winners and possibly other finalists who might receive royalties for ideas that are incorporated into the product line," Smith said.

Other University of Arkansas finalists in the contest were Megan Buhrow of Hot Springs, Alyssa Cunningham of Success, Felicia Davis of West Fork, Kathleen Jerry of Greenwood, Matt Mayes of Rogers, Taylor Mortimer of Tulsa, Shambrey Osnes of Farmington, Celeste Posey of Benton, Lauren Saint of Little Rock, Sarah Shirley of North Little Rock, Asha Tate of Sherwood, Emily Toole of Pine Bluff, Casie Williams of Hot Springs and Kristin Peterson of Allen, Texas.