Winning Designs

Season 3 – 2026

Season 3 expanded the competition into an interdisciplinary collaboration, pairing fashion design and merchandising students with graphic design students to develop trend-driven, market-ready apparel concepts. First-place winners Lilly Arnold and Grace Starr created Home of the Tailgate, inspired by trends centered on connection, community and authentic, hand-crafted design, while Sarah Bernick and Tiara Young earned second place with AMES, a versatile design incorporating iconic campus architecture. Both concepts were produced by Charlie Hustle and brought to retail, with the winning students also earning the opportunity to take part in CLC’s New York experience.

Season 2 – 2025

Season 2 continued to build on the competition’s market-driven approach, with students identifying opportunities to connect Iowa State traditions, experiences and storytelling with current apparel trends. Lauren Goman created an Iowa-inspired design celebrating everything from cornfields and sunsets to game-day traditions, while returning winner Piper Michalski developed a detailed campus map designed to create a sense of nostalgia and connection between students and alumni. The winning products were produced in partnership with Charlie Hustle and launched in fall 2025.

Season 1 – 2024

The inaugural season of Cyclones Take New York challenged Iowa State students to combine market research, fashion forecasting and licensed design to create apparel that offered a fresh take on Cyclone pride. Winning concepts included Elli Allen’s nostalgic Clone Cone collection, Kai Huntoon’s vintage-inspired Cyclone hoodie and Piper Michalski’s athleisure-focused Cyclone Star Sweat Set, with the products ultimately brought to market for Iowa State fans.