This past weekend, I attended the annual student runway show at California College of the Arts in San Francisco. Not sure what to expect, I was surprised to find so much buzz and professional energy. Held inside a large tent at street level just outside the school, the show was packed and the level of excitement high.
Many of the featured designers showed off their drapery skills with unique fabric manipulations. There were great sculptural jackets, bold color combinations, crochet sweater knits, intricate shoulder details, layering and unexpected back details for both men and women. Several designers also incorporated zero waste patterning into their sustainable collections.The CCA Fashion Design Program strives for innovation, which could be felt in the looks many designers sent down the runway.
What I liked most about the show was the way each designer was able to express their own unique understanding of garment construction, while inhabiting a space somewhere between the avante garde and the marketplace. It was refreshing to see this artistic angle on fashion, and while many of the garments looked like true art pieces, you could still imagine them being worn to parties and events around town. So many design school fashion shows get caught up in what is marketable, but these collections seemed to flow from a more artistic perspective.
At the end of the event, show sponsor Surface Magazine presented the “Emerging Talent Award,” which includes an internship, to Ashley Eva Brock. An additional internship was also awarded to James S. Zormeir.
Here are some of my favorite looks from the collections (all photos by Stevan Nordström):