As co-eds contemplate heading back to school this Fall, most can only hope to be rewarded for long hours laboring in the library with a walk down the aisle sporting an unflattering black cap and gown. For fashion students at Academy of Art University San Francisco graduation is the fruition of their education strutting down the runway and for select students in their graduate program the first of what may become many showings at New York Fashion Week.
ACADEMY OF ART: FALL 2009 RUNWAY SHOW, MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK - New York
While many renowned designers have elected to cut costs by deferring shows from Bryant Park during New York Fashion Week, Academy of Art spares no expense to introduce its new designers to the fashion industry in a move that can only be described as brilliant and business savvy. They are the only school of fashion to produce a show in Bryant Park this year.
For Fall/Winter 2009 five design teams showcased diverse collections that highlighted the schools excellence in textiles, knitwear and construction. Noteworthy showings came from design team Emily Melville and Ivanka Georgieva and knitwear designer Qianya Martin who demonstrated remarkably different perspectives. Melville and Georgieva's icy wool architectural coats, dresses and separates adorned with marbleized landscape patterns offered a modern take on classic elegance. Martin's playful knitwear was masterfully sculpted, creating optical illsuions by weaving together sheer and solid shapes inspired by waves.
Noteworthy showings: Looks 1-3 Emily Melville & Ivanka Georgieva (collaboration) and looks 4-5 Qianya Martin (PHOTOS COURTESY OF ACADEMY OF ART SAN FRANCISCO)
Watch highlights from the show below!
ACADEMY OF ART : GRADUATION FASHION SHOW - San FranciscoThe undergraduate showing was more colorful with students demonstrating greater abandon and willingness to take risks. From the diversity of directions taken it's difficult to imagine these designers came from the same city let alone instructors. With everything from colorful casuals, jaunty sportswear, reflective ruffles, deconstructed leather, feathery knits and (one of the evening's highlights) architectural jewelry, the show was a fashion feast and undoubtedly the biggest event of its kind in the Bay Area. It's not just the school's fashion design department that merits recognition for some impressive construction but also for the textiles created. While knitwear is so often downplayed, the school has evolved it into its own kind of couture.
 Designers to watch (from left to right): Bridget Miranda Sidden, Vanessa Salazar, Nancy De Los Reyes and Dee Larsen. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF ACADEMY OF ART SAN FRANCISCO)
Watch the show below!
With the rising costs of education its hard for any parent or student faced with tuition fees and student loans not to wonder "Is this education really worth it?" If you dream big of making a career in the fashion industry not only does this kind of education seem worthwhile in terms of technical skill but offers a virtual stepping stone in the fashion industry. Getting one runway show under your belt seems invaluable. . . and being spared a humiliating stint on reality television to do so seems priceless!
* A new group of Academy of Art students head to Bryant Park for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010 on September 12, 2009*
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