An eventful Wednesday night at the Skylight at Moynihan Station, The Arc for emerging designers of Art Institutes.
The school enlisted 13 of their most promising students to showcase their collections. Designers, both current and recent graduates, displayed 12 collections (11 individual designers and 1 team of designers) during New York Fashion Week to a raving audience. The 12 collections highlighted each designer’s unique creativity and dedication to detail and craftsmanship. Creating such strong collections surely makes for new competition for some of the worlds best designers.
Information on each of the designers and collections:
Designer #1: German Madrigal (Apparel Design BFA student, The Art Institute of Portland) – His “Equilibrium” collection was sleekly influenced through experimentation with the minimalistic side. Boldly defined lines with fine tailoring created a minimalistic androgyny.
Designer #2: Zenia Da Sousa (Graduate, BFA Fashion Design program, 2015, Miami International University of Art & Design)- Her men’s and women’s collection “The Real Life” was heavy on details yet decidedly clean in aesthetic. It showed fashion and architecture walking side by side combining urban edge as seen in industrial design.
Designer #3: Kimberly Richardson (Graduate, AAS Fashion Design program, 2015, The Art Institute of New York City) – Corrosion melded into candescence ignited this collection, “Spontaneous Combustion.”Using suede, denim, linens, and leathers, this collection was a contemporary take on the Japanese Shibori dyeing technique.
Designer #4: Sebastian Cubides (Fashion Design BFA student, Miami International University of Art & Design) – A mid summer night’s dream with industrial nymphs came together to create this men’s and women’s modern collection titled, “Nemophilist.” It featured elongated silhouettes with inventive detailing that embodied a European sportswear vibe.
Designer #5: Stephanie Castanon (Graduate, BFA Fashion Design program, 2015, Miami International University of Art & Design)- “Beneath The Surface” featured iridescents that were set off against black shapes in this strongly feminine collection with gothic undertones.
Designer #6: Christopher Leveille & Djoone’s Altenor (Fashion Design AAS students, The Art Institute of New York City)– Their collection “Urban Nomad” was comprised of men’s layered street wear that appeared pumped up to near couture proportions in leathers, denim, fleece, and jersey.
Designer #7: Nhi Nguyen (Graduate BFA Fashion Design program, 2015, The Art Institute of Houston)– Mixing metallic fabrics with geometric shapes, this collection made a futuristic “Statement” with a classic, defined retro style. It sustained feminine sophistication with a modern but youthful twist using layers of fabrications and handwork that look at once dressy yet approachable.
Designer #8: Tatiana Cochagne (Fashion Design BS student, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale)- Forever “Eterna,” this Elizabethan infused collection, used elaborate fabrics that danced decadently in a fashion conscious era. It held court using geometric lines with a baroque flair and non-conventional fabrications.
Designer #9: Bahareh Memarian (Graduate Fashion Design diploma program, 2015, The Art Institute of Vancouver)- Reminiscent of a sultry and luxe past where the silver screen stars smoldered in meticulous fashion, her “Externa” collection evoked 100% cruelty free glamour in ornate detail.
Designer #10: Lavan Chxeidze (Graduate AAS Fashion Design program, 2015, The Art Institute of New York City)- Uber feminine menswear or masculine womenswear? A question everyone asks after viewing this collection. This avant-garde collection inspired by the 1932 film Shanghai Express captured the diverse flow of fabrics, challenging the boundaries of menswear.
Designer #11: Alejandra Insuna (Fashion Design BA student, The Art Institute of Phoenix)– Her collection “Silent Epic; A Winter Shade Of Pale” expressed a futuristic journey integrating stark white sculptural dresses, classic cuts, and retro looks.
Designer #12: David Marquise Seward (Graduate AS Fashion Design program, 2015, The Art Institute of Philadelphia)- His collection “Inuit Culture” was inspired by his passion for the beauty of the bizarre found in architecture. The garments that closed out the show seemed in tune with his vision of tidy symmetry mingled with vibrant prints and textures.
For more info on Art Institutes Fashion program head over to https://www.artinstitutes.edu/
