A Bowling Green State University (BGSU) fashion merchandising and product development (FMPD) student traveled to New York to show his designs on the runway during New York Fashion Week (NYFW).

On Sept. 10, junior Nate Hughes collaborated with the International Institute for the Brain (iBRAIN) to have one of his designs modeled during iBRAIN’s runway.

“It was surreal,” Hughes said. “I was watching the crowd the whole time. And, I don’t want to sound full of myself, but everybody put out their phone when my stuff came up.”

Hughes partnered with iBRAIN to design an outfit for one of their students, who would model it.

“iBRAIN is a pioneering organization that provides specialized education, related services and research-driven solutions to support students with brain injuries and disorders, as well as their families,” as stated on their website.

The “iCan do Anything” fashion show’s theme was “My Voice Through Fashion.”

“Each student walked (or rolled, or rode) the runway in a custom-designed adaptive outfit, co-created with fashion design students from universities across the country,” as stated on iBRAIN’s website.

Recent iBRAIN graduate, Christopher Perez, modeled a red zip-up with a white cross and light camo pants designed by Hughes.

“Christopher is known for his big smile, joyful spirit and the way he brings people together wherever he goes,” as said in the fashion show live stream.

Before the runway, Hughes gave a speech on what it was like creating a design for NYFW.

“Throughout the whole design process, I’ve been taking inspiration from music that I listen to, people that have influenced me for my whole entire life,” Hughes said in the live stream. “So to see how those inspirations worked into the clothes has been a really cool process and I’m glad someone could wear it and look good in it.”

By cutting and sewing fabric, Hughes was able to complete his look in a short time to send to New York.

“It took me about a month and a half to get size clarification. So, I knocked it [completing the garments] out in two weeks,” Hughes said.

Back home, Hughes runs his brand, My Brand is Ass (MBIA), designing pants, sweatshirts, hats, belts and more.

“I started it at the end of 2023, but I wasn’t really serious until the end of last year. Because it was more on the side, as I have to finish school, but the ball started rolling,” Hughes said.

Since forming MBIA, one of Hughes’ FMPD professors, Su Yun Bae, noticed his hard work and thought he would be a great fit for iBRAIN’s collaboration show.

“At the time, Nate was developing his own brand and seeking opportunities to advertise it. Simultaneously, iBRAIN was looking to begin a national university collaboration for their annual fashion show,” Bae said. “I saw this as a great opportunity both to foster a talented fashion designer in our program and to support iBRAIN’s mission.”

This was the fourth annual iBRAIN show and the first time they looked to BGSU for a collaboration.

“This was the first time iBRAIN reached out to us and the first official collaboration between our program and their organization. We approached it with the hope that it would mark the beginning of an ongoing partnership,” Bae said.

Hughes has also had celebrities like Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) and Teddy Swims wear his designs.

“We were at this pop-up and my phone buzzed twice. I was like, ‘I’ll check in a minute’ and it buzzed ten more times, like immediately,” Hughes said. “I opened up my phone and there was the Fashion Media Awards going on and I saw MGK wearing my belt at the awards and he accepted the Style Icon Award in my belt, which was pretty crazy.”

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Photo of MGK in a belt designed by Nate Hughes (Photo from MGK's Instagram)

After this event, Hughes dreams of having a pop-up in New York for fashion week and wants to continue designing garments.

“It’s been a really fun experience designing for this. This is my first time out in New York designing something for fashion week, so it’s going to be one to remember,” Hughes said in his speech.

For more information on iBRAIN’s “i Can do Anything” Fashion Show: https://www.ibrainglobal.org/ibrain-fashion-show-2025

For more information on MBIA: https://www.mybrandisass.com/