Haute potato: Spud-focused collection debuts at New York Fashion week

Every year, the Idaho Potato Commission challenges itself to find new ways to honor the growers who make our industry possible while keeping Idaho potatoes relevant in a crowded, fast-moving marketplace.

This year, that challenge led us onto the runway at New York Fashion Week, bringing the stories of Idaho’s potato farmers into a cultural moment that felt both unexpected and personal.

In 1951, Marilyn Monroe famously posed in an Idaho potato burlap sack dress, transforming a humble farm staple into a pop culture moment. Seventy-five years later, that image has been reimagined on the runway, serving as inspiration for a modern interpretation that connects agricultural heritage with contemporary culture.

The collection was designed by Idaho fashion designer and Project Runway Junior alum Cartier Dior Elisen. Raised in a family of Idaho potato farmers, Elisen brought both credibility and creativity to the project.

The collection featured 10 looks, including eight dresses, a women’s suit and a men’s suit. Inspired by Idaho potato sacks, the designs transformed a familiar agricultural material into couture pieces that felt unexpected while remaining respectful of their origins.

Ten runway models brought the collection to life, including Idaho native and fitness influencer Kristin McGee.

After the mid-February show, Grand Brasserie served Idaho potato-inspired bites, highlighting the quality and versatility of the crop in a way people could experience firsthand.

Giving back remained a central consideration throughout the planning process. At the show, select designs from the collection were auctioned to support No Kid Hungry, helping ensure kids across the U.S. have access to nutritious meals.

The collection was designed to spark conversation beyond the runway. It generated media opportunities, social storytelling and a fresh visual language that extended across platforms. More importantly, it demonstrated leadership by showing how Idaho potatoes help shape culture in authentic, relevant ways.

This approach reflects how Idaho potatoes continue to lead: by honoring where we came from while stepping forward boldly, creating programs that match our quality and scale, and telling our story in ways as distinctive and enduring as the growers and potatoes behind it.

Jamey Higham is president and CEO of the Idaho Potato Commission.