Local fashion designer gets national recognition at just 22-years-old

One local collegian is making a name for himself in the fashion world, and he's only 22 years old.

K-State Senior Mason Burns fashion designs are inspired by passion and vision.

"I think it's a little bit eclectic and against trends kind of. I've just always dressed and my projects are very non-traditional,” Burns said.

And with less than a year of sewing experience under his belt, the Lyndon, Kansas native is ready to showcase his designs outside of the sunflower state. Mason will be one of the hot emerging artists at FashioNXT Week in Portland, Oregon this October.

“It's pretty cool. I definitely have to put a lot more work in to not stand out as a lot lower quality designer I guess,” Burns said. “So I did it as more of a push to get better myself and put more time and energy into that area."

FashioNXT, is the second most nationally recognized fashion week outside of New York's. Designers from Project Runway, and other big names from around the country will be there.

Not open to students, they made an exception for Burns because of his unique point of view, and singular sense of fashion design.

“A lot of the students in my class are great, they are probably even better sewers and clothing producers than me, but I guess I've always added a twist to just make it real odd,” Burns said.

He said he couldn’t have made it to this point in his design career without his instructors at K-state.

“It's kind of just like a challenge for me. I'm not even sure how it will turn out yet, but I'm going to give it all I got and we'll see,” Burns said. “Hopefully leave some of those other designers impressed."

Burns will graduate a year from now, and will pursue a design career with a large clothing company, or as an entrepreneur.