SOUTH CENTRAL CHAPTER OF ASID presents AN ARKANSAS FEATURE:
PRODUCT RUNWAY
The South Central Chapter’s Product Runway is an avant-garde couture fashion design competition with a bit of a twist. Inspired by the concept of the hit reality TV show Project Runway, Product Runway is one of only a handful of fashion shows of its kind in the country. This signature event places teams of interior design and architecture professionals and students into a high-energy fashion design challenge—creating handmade runway garments out of standard architectural finish materials such as glass, tile, wallcovering, carpet, wood, and more. Product Runway challenges participants to channel their design expertise into wearable works of art using materials provided by their Garment Label Sponsors (ASID Industry Partners), all within a specified period of time. The culmination of these efforts will be a runway fashion show where the garments are modeled by one member of each team, and a panel of judges will score each look based on creativity, execution, and interpretation of the theme.
This year’s theme invites us into a world of spectacle, mystery, and theatrical flair:
“THE VAUDEVILLE EXTRAVAGANZA IN DREAMLAND!”
5:15 PM - Doors Open for VIP Admission
5:30 PM - Champagne Toast with VIPs
6:00 PM - Doors Open for General Admission
6:30 PM - Product Runway: Fashion Show
8:30 -10:00 PM Afterparty
(DJ, hors d'oeuvres & open bar)
Step into the legendary Dreamland Ballroom and travel back to a time when the stage lights shimmered, the curtains rose, and audiences gathered for an evening of unforgettable entertainment. This historic building- Taborian Hall, is located in the famous 9th Street District of downtown Little Rock and the 3rd floor was home to the Dreamland Ballroom, which was a vibrant destination for famous traveling performers, live music, and dance. It quickly became a regular stop on the Chitlin’ Circuit, welcoming renowned performers, musicians, and comedians during the golden age of American entertainment and will provide the perfect backdrop for the ASID’s 2026 Product Runway event.
Vaudeville was the heartbeat of American variety performance—an electric blend of comedy, dance, music, illusion, circus acts, animal trainers, strongmen, dramatic performers, and show-stopping costumes. It was bold, eccentric, glamorous, and unapologetically dramatic. Each act brought its own personality and visual identity, creating a world where extravagance was expected and imagination ruled the night.
In true vaudeville fashion, this year’s garment inspirations are rooted in the larger-than-life performers and show themes that once captivated audiences—illusionists, magicians, traveling circus acts, ringmasters, animal trainers, showgirls, comedic characters, and theatrical showpieces. These concepts provide teams with a creative foundation for exploring color, texture, movement, pattern, and scale. Teams will collaborate with their Garment Label Sponsors to select materials that best capture the energy of their act and bring their Dreamland-inspired performance to life on the runway. The result will be a showcase of bold creativity, dramatic storytelling, and unforgettable couture—bringing the magic of Dreamland back to life for one extraordinary night.
The 2026 Product Runway “THE VAUDEVILLE EXTRAVAGANZA IN DREAMLAND” themes are…
- THE FORTUNE TELLER & MYSTIC ARTS
- THE TRAPEZE ARTIST / AERIAL ACT
- THE ILLUSIONIST: SMOKE & MIRRORS
- THE PUPPETEER / MARIONETTE PERFORMANCE
- THE COMEDY ACT / CLOWN PRINCE
- THE TRAVELING CIRCUS
- THE BIG TOP ANIMAL TAMER
- THE CARNIVAL SIDESHOW
- THE GRAND RINGMASTER
- THE SHOWGIRL / VAUDEVILLE REVUE STAR
Product Runway was designed to promote ASID & its members, showcase design talent & construction materials, and give back to the local community. Part of this year’s proceeds will go to two (3) Central Arkansas charities: studioMAIN, The Van, and Restore Hope. This event also provides a great opportunity for design professionals and vendors to work together in a creative and fun way. Ticket sales for the runway show will be open to the public.
Restore Hope is a nonprofit software, services, and media organization dedicated to improving outcomes for justice-involved individuals and families involved in the child welfare system. Using a collective impact approach, Restore Hope brings together government agencies, nonprofits, healthcare providers, educational institutions, faith-based organizations, businesses, and community leaders around a shared vision, common goals, coordinated strategies, and measurable outcomes to address complex community challenges.
Restore Hope helps communities establish local Alliances that identify existing resources, service gaps, and opportunities for collaboration. Rather than creating new programs where services already exist, Alliances focus on strengthening relationships, improving coordination, and maximizing the impact of community resources through a shared framework for action. Through this process, communities are able to better serve individuals and families while reducing duplication of services and improving outcomes.
At the center of this work is HopeHub, Restore Hope’s collaborative case management platform that connects providers, agencies, and community partners in a shared location where they can communicate, make referrals, coordinate care, track outcomes, and work together on individualized action plans. HopeHub utilizes ongoing assessments to identify barriers, measure progress, and engage participants in achieving self-defined goals while ensuring accountability among service providers.
Restore Hope measures and coordinates services across thirteen (13) social determinants of health: Childcare, Dental Health, Education, Employment, Financial Stability, Food Security, Housing, Legal Stability, Mental Health, Physical Health, Recovery, Safety, and Transportation. Through its Smart Justice initiatives, Restore Hope works with courts, probation and parole, detention facilities, reentry programs, law enforcement, and community partners to reduce barriers, improve legal outcomes, and strengthen pathways to stability for justice-involved individuals.
In addition to its software and service platforms, Restore Hope serves as a media organization dedicated to highlighting innovative solutions and successful outcomes in justice and child welfare. Through Smart Justice magazine, digital publications, newsletters, podcasts, videos, and other storytelling efforts, Restore Hope elevates promising practices, shares lessons learned, and connects stakeholders across communities to advance meaningful systems change.
By aligning community resources, leveraging data, and fostering collaboration, Restore Hope helps communities create sustainable solutions that strengthen families, reduce recidivism, improve child welfare outcomes, and move individuals from crisis to thriving.
To learn more about Restore Hope, please visit https://www.restorehope.io/. To learn more about HopeHub, please visit https://www.restorehope.io/hopehub. To learn more about Smart Justice and subscribe to Smart Justice magazine, newsletters, podcasts, and other publications, please visit https://smartjustice.org/.