Updated October 2026 · By Anton Alexander
The event archive · June 2011
Fifteen outfits. A new direction.
Fashion Show 2.0 marked a step from a successful local event toward designing complete men’s outfits. In June 2011, the founder presented 15 looks built around vivid fabrics, expressive details, and the ambition to develop a label of his own. At the time, that label was called Exotiq Apparel.
A clearer design direction for Fashion Show 2.0
Travel and research after the 2010 Livin Loud Fashion Show helped shape the next collection. The founder was drawn to vivid shirt fabrics, contrast, and the idea of using rhinestones in a deliberate, coordinated way.
One experiment was a series of silk ties with hand-laid rhinestone patterns. These details were intended for occasions where a stronger visual statement could work: celebrations, evening events, and a night out.
The goal was to bring those interests into complete menswear looks, rather than treating each accessory as an isolated idea.
Learning how to turn an idea into garments
Creating 15 outfits exposed the practical work behind the presentation. The founder worked with local people experienced in sewing and patternmaking, joining the work and learning through the process. Developing the looks took about six months, with research and show planning extending across much of the year.
The archive’s lesson is specific: full outfits require patterns, fitting decisions, time, and coordination. The effort helped bring the founder closer to understanding what his own label would need.
Our production pattern story follows another part of that development. The studio construction story explains the approach behind the shirts made today.
The next stages of the story
Following the show, the original account records feedback from the community and attention from local and national media. The menswear prototypes then developed through Midwest Fashion Week in Fall 2011 and Fashion Show 3.0 in June 2012.
The photographs here preserve the designs and presentation of 2011. To explore current fabrics, fit, and individual details, begin with the custom dress shirt guide.
Useful answers
Frequently asked questions
When was Fashion Show 2.0 held?
The collection was presented in June 2011, one year after the Livin Loud Fashion Show.
How many men’s outfits were created?
The original account records 15 outfits, developed over about six months.
What was the label called at that stage?
The founder was using the name Exotiq Apparel before the transition to Anton Alexander.
Can I order the exact archived designs?
These photographs show historical collection experiments. Check the current shop and custom options for the designs and materials offered today.