MassArt Fashion Design Showcase 2024

ReSURGENCE

 

ALEXANDRA JADE ARRUDA / Space Case
jade2402@gmail.com / @ajadesign02

On another planet, in a queer bar….This costume collection focuses on the importance of a shared space amongst a community where individuals are able to express and explore themselves. Incorporating shared experiences from the queer community while acknowledging societal biases with resilience and confrontation all within a cosmic backdrop.

RACHEL COLT CALAFELL / Into The Nile
rachel.colt.calafell@gmail.com / @calafelldesigns

 In honor of my grandmother. With my collection, I hoped to share with the world my grieving process. Water encapsulates life, it is excitement, joy, and breath. It is also still, deep, aggressive, and stoic. I believe that grief is a privilege, an act of love. My collection is just that, an act of love. It is the beauty that comes only from the deepest of places.  יונה ברוכה

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SZU-YU (JESS) CHIU / Motherhood
cjes253@gmail.com / @jessfineart86

Growing up, my mom was always a best friend of mine. We cherish each other no matter what, and nothing is going to pull us apart. The collection is a reinvention of my childhood sweaters that she made for me and a concrete form of maternal love. These sweater-inspired garments are not only a flashback of those good memories back then, but also a great tribute to my lovely mommy Wan-Ching LIN.

ZEMFIRA CHOLPONBAEVA / Jıldız Borborum
zemfirazemfi2@gmail.com / @z_fashion_blog_

Kyrgyz ornaments are a valuable cultural heritage that reflects the history and traditions of the people. Symbols don’t mean a single letter, they usually mean a word. Adding one dot to another symbol changes the meaning of the sentence. Using the old  Kyrgyz dictionary about forgotten language I want to give the meaning to my collection and share the history of ancient Kyrgyz Oimo.

ANALISE COLÓN / Divine Femininity
analise.c4@gmail.com / @analise.estilo

 Influenced by my upbringing in a Hispanic Catholic household, where women often struggle for recognition despite being the foundation, my couture collection is a tribute to the empowering female figures in my family.  They shaped my perception of femininity with their confidence, empathy, and strength. I weave this narrative in my designs through motifs that represent family ties, Catholicism, and love.

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LUKE DAVIES / Adjournment
luke1davies@comcast.net / @chaoscosplays & @red_handed_creations

Adjournment is a series of opposing garments representing the unique pieces on a Chess board. When drafting my concept for this collection, I thought of fond memories of my grandfather teaching me how to play when I was a child in England. I chose Chess as the theme because it allowed me to challenge my range and abilities as a fashion designer and sculptor whilst creating a cohesive collection and maintaining a strong visual narrative. 

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ETHAN THOMAS DONALDSON / Sanguine Bonds
ethandonaldson@comcast.net / @eeeebeeeeee

Every being is spiritual, experiencing corporeality in the world together. This Introspection on having a body, living a life, and observing death turns to escapism. Revelation is alchemy from growing pains, where relationships and aspirations have haunted but not cursed.

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KATHERINE FAJARDO / Modelo Nueve Once (WEPA!!)
katherinecfajardo1@gmail.com / @katch.the.vibe

The Porsche 911 strikes a balance between what is known as classic & modern, a combination of simplicity and complexity. Over the years the model has become iconic for its timeless design, flowing curves, and sporty essence. It’s not only a car, but a feeling. I interpreted different generations and merged my favorite components from the fashion world to develop pieces that read two as one. “Modelo Nueve Once” manifests in explorations of line, craftsmanship, shape, contrast, and detail, bringing together the best of both worlds.

“The 911 is the only car that you can drive from an African safari to Le Mans, then to the theatre and onto the streets of New York.” —Ferdinand Porsche

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KAYLEE FENTON / I want to save you, I know you can’t be saved
kfenton0723@gmail.com / @mylastepilogue

Mutation and manipulation within delicate fabrics represent a woman's innermost turmoil while historical references display the parallels between then and now — the pursuit of perfection spans generations and is never-ending for a woman.

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JOEY HITOPOULOS / The Scream Queen
m.hitopoulos@gmail.com / @zombie.kay

The women that haunt horror have entertained viewers throughout the decades, and are consistently revamping the genre. Their campy-niche charm, ethereal nature, and dangerously sexy image are my inspiration, as well as their rejection of normalcy plaguing our society. Those unique qualities were what the Hays code set out to destroy in the 30s through 60s, and the films made around its creation are particularly fascinating. My focus for this collection is on gowns these women might wear off the silver screen and on the red carpet. Dark silhouettes and hints of shimmer are what I imagine these women would wear to embody their campy elegance.

SAMANTHA FIONA HOSTAGE / Avian
samanthahostage@icloud.com / @witchymediums

“The creative adult is the child who survived.” -Ursula K. Leguin

Avian is a burlesque inspired collection with intricate fiber art mixed throughout the pieces. Creating this collection was a reflection on the tumultuous and freeing experience of womanhood. Through color and texture, I spoke for the child within. This collection is dedicated to my mother and the women who have come before me who inspire greatness.

OSIRYS CAROLINA LOPEZ / Romanticizing
osiryssinfo@gmail.com / @parity.violence_

A historical/modern inspiration of American and world traditional western wear; within the generational repetition of appropriation in society and judgments. Deceiving everything falling in line of industries, designers, arts, and trends. This collection represents my symbolic passion for philosophical ideologies and the remembrance of our loved ones from the past. It’s dedication storytelling to its interpretation of children culturally through labor poverty conditions and hard-man-ship in past and present.

NESYAH SUNRISE MAGER / Fae/Faer
@sunriseandludo@gmail.com / @nesyah.sunrise

As a person who identifies with fairies and uses fae/faer pronouns, I express my non-binary experience by featuring insects and arachnids that I relate to. This collection is an amalgamation of my own digital textile designs and natural dye techniques using homegrown flowers. Like spiders, queer people or often overlooked and underestimated but we have magic within us. 

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MONICA NAKHOUL / See You In Beruit Whatever Happens
monicanakhoul@gmail.com / @monica_nakhoul

Escapism is the tendency to seek distraction from unpleasant realities. With all the hardships Beirut has gone through, today, the people will still rave till they see the 2nd sun.

Utilitarian garments that function to carry everything you need to survive, or to just rave, are the main focus of this versatile collection.

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PERLA MONTAN / Tempus Edax Rerum
perla00montan@gmail.com / @leceourdepearl

"Artists of the present are always in conversation with artists of the past." —David Nolta.

Physicists and philosophers have a similar conceptualization of time. It is an illusion made up of human memories- everything that has ever been, and ever will be, is happening right now. In fashion, past styles are revived and mixed with those of the present. This collection's main conversation is held with Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972). His use of black and play in creating new silhouettes is the driving force behind my thesis.  

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LUCAS PEDRELLI / Pogi
lucaspedrelli@gmail.com / @fabricsnshit

Pogi, in this sense, is a synonym for family, and the importance of such. The things we do for the people we love and the things they in turn do for us. A constant reminder of potential and self improvement. A reason to accomplish our desires and strive for greatness, and to make proud the people that without them, nothing would be attainable. This love that consumes us, that protects us from hurt and harm empowers us to be strong in the presence of hardship. Pogi is made to represent this feeling of protection, to empower the wearer with confidence and ambition, a constant reminder of love and of passion and an ultimate message to love yourself as you love others.

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PRINCESS CHICKEN/LILLIAN PEXTON / Trim & Ease
lillianpexton@gmail.com / @princess_chicken_fashion

As someone raised by sailors with a deep passion for adventure, my creativity is influenced by my parents' courageous endeavors at sea. Upcycled sails are reimagined and transformed into wearable, expressive garments, emulating a sail full of wind. This artisanal resort collection is a playful conversation between sailors and their profound relationship to the ocean, by embodying imagination and play, flowing and moving much like the sea itself.

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KHAMMANY PHOMMACHANH / Groovilicious
khammanyphom@gmail.com / @kmoneyymillions

In the spirit of 80s Freestyle music, this collection harmonizes two different cultures. The melodies of the Lao sinh and rhythms of the Vietnamese áo dài blend together to create remixes of each other. By balancing levels within traditional and modern techniques, these linear silhouettes fan open to reveal a new style. 

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LILAH GRACE PUDLO / Female Threads Through Time
lilahg23@icloud.com / @artbylilahpudlo

My lifelong passion for sewing, rooted in family traditions, started as a toddler watching my mother's skilled work. This creative outlet connects me to my family's artistic heritage. Inspired by Art Deco and Rococo, I honored my great-grandmother Grace by infusing vintage fabrics into my couture designs for a personal and historical touch. With the invaluable support of my sponsors, Swarovski and Solstiss Lace, I intricately incorporated lacework and exquisite beading into my garments, elevating them to new heights of sophistication and beauty.

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FAITH POWERS / Eat Cake
faithvpowers@gmail.com / @faithpowers.design

Eat Cake is a fashion collection that reimagines the iconic style of Marie Antoinette, blending historical opulence with contemporary streetwear aesthetics. The collection draws inspiration from the lavish fashion of the 18th century French court and combines it with the urban, edgy vibe of street fashion in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, and London. 

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ALIYAH E. PRUITT / Epincenity
aliyahpruitt@gmail.com / @LiDoesStyle

A collection about self-identity, artistic expression, and personal freedom. 

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HEILY RIVAS PERDOMO / Riachuelos
heilyrivasfashion@gmail.com / @heilyrivasfashion

“Riachuelos” is a sustainable fashion collection that examines the potential of human achievement through a water-powered lens, applying concepts of hydrology as an analogy for social anthropology. Such as drops of water fuse into pulsating, flowing rivers that empty into the ocean, so too can people unite to create massive waves of positive change in our increasingly globalized, yet agonizing, planet.

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REBECCA SONG / 교포 (gyo ᐧ po)
suminsong02@gmail.com / @ssm.couture

The aspiration for connection is the key to this collection. It’s about building a bridge between the gap of two identities and exploring the conversation outwardly. Part of the conversation I want to explore is celebrating the Korean women in my life along with highlighting traditions of women in Korean culture. Whether that’s through folklore in art and storytelling or inspired by the roles Korean women have played in Korean history. By mixing traditional silhouettes, textiles, and techniques with modern elements in each garment, along with adding some personal details within each look, this collection is the bridge of my Korean diaspora.

TRAVIS E. SOURRAGH / Overlooked
ttssourragh@gmail.com / @liberty__torch

Brief collection description: Immerse yourself in the essence of the unnoticed with 'Overlooked,' a captivating celebration of life's overlooked moments. This collection invites you to embrace the raw beauty found in life's lowest points, urging you to acknowledge the imperfections, revel in them, and ultimately find empowerment through their authenticity, striking the balance between blending in or standing out! 

FATIMA UMAÑA / The Altar
fatimaumana15@gmail.com / @fddesc

“What’s on your altar?” My insight of growing up in a Catholic community taking inspiration from the altar itself and how different cultures decorate it, along with playing with traditional vestments and their modesty.

ELLEN YEUNG / Painted Fairy Tales
chutiing0224@gmail.com / @o2.stories

This collection integrates my fine art and fashion designs. By bringing fantasy elements from my paintings to my dresses, I narrate stories through my designs.