Hope Wallace came home from the Charleston Fashion Week with much more than exposure and an increased fan base—she won the People’s Choice Award.

Wallace, a Georgia Southern University fashion professor, showed her collection of eight pieces Friday night at the fashion show, which ended this past weekend after five days.

“She earned a very well-deserved People’s Choice Award. I’m not sure when she started her journey into Charleston Fashion Week, but I know she put hard work into it and it really paid off,” Jennifer Mackey, senior fashion merchandising major, said.

“Her collection was very retro and wearable. The silhouettes were beautiful and proportioned dramatically, and the colors were amazing. I liked the fact that her designs were simple but gave off an edgy feel,” Auri Lee, senior fashion merchandising major, said.

There were 30 runway shows in total from 20 carefully selected semi-finalist designers. Special guests that joined the festivities include Ashanti, Project Runway winner, Christian Siriano, and Fern Mallis, creator of NYC Fashion Week.

“I had the chance to work with Christian and his team. He comes to the tents focused to work to have a seamless show. Being able to feel his collection in person was the best part,” Laura Jefferson, senior fashion merchandising major, said.

Each night, finalists were chosen to compete in the next set of fashion shows the following day. The four finalists that were chosen for the finale were Alfriyie Poku, Katherine Barron, Siobhan Elizabeth Murphy and Serena da Conceição. Alfriyie Poku won the 2013 Emerging Designer Competition.

Kenny Olowoyo, senior apparel design and two-dimensional art major, said, “I loved being backstage during fashion week. Models running to get dressed, designers pressing and doing last minute alterations and coordinators trying to make sure things are running without hitches.”