Final: Cirque A La Mode

As some would say, this is where "the magic happens." For apparel design students, the production lab is where ideas and concepts become reality, the physical starting point of fashion.

For senior apparel design student Melaney Stevens, the lab is where she spends most of her time. Here she is working on one design for her senior fashion show.

One might also find mannequins of various sizes inside the production lab. Here are some child mannequins looking quite naked.

Sara Penn is another apparel design student that frequents the production lab. As an upper classman, Sara, along with Melaney, produced several outfits for the Visual Merchandising fashion show.

Perhaps the most essential tool an apparel design student can use other than their own mind.

Melaney, again, still working hard on her senior fashion show design.

Seniors weren't the ony apparel design majors to produce fashion for the Visual Merchandising fashion show. Lower classmen, such as Lindsay Choi, were required to create one shirt for the show.

A simple yet intriguing advertisment for the Visual Merchandising fashion show.

Visual Merchandising students got to work quickly setting up the stage for Cirque A La Mode on April 15.

Backstage, volunteer model Kala McDonald lets two girls "rat" her hair in preparation for the dysfunctional circus theme.

Despite the cramped area, the models and the Visual Merchandising students worked well together to get everyone's hair and make up ready for the big event.

Taking a step back, one of the Visual Merchandising students takes a look at her handiwork on one model's hair.

Next step: Make up. A girl has to look good when she's a member of the crazy circus.

Almost ready for the show, model Hilary Brander smiles while she waits for her finishing touches to be applied.

Once again we have senior apparel design student Melaney Stevens, who not only designed several outfits for the show, but also volunteered to model for the show.

Time for rehearsal. One model practices her model-pose at the end of the runway.

"Welcome to the madhouse!" Hilary Brander strikes a pose as the first model on the runway, starting the show and leading us into Cirque A La Mode.