As part of the Academy of Art University’s Spring 2016 Graduation Show, a crop of design students came together to work on a capsule collection that’ll be presented on the School of Fashion runway on May 11th. After the show, the designs will be available for purchase at our beloved SHOP657 store located on 657 Sutter Street.
Inspired by Alice in Wonderland and the adventurous journey through the Tenderloin, the graduating fashion design students used bold prints, obscure proportions, and dynamic shapes to capture and express the grit and grime of the infamous neighborhood and its rich history and an irrepressible vibe. Following the eco-friendly adage “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure,” the designers chose to repurpose the old into the new with recycled canvas courtesy of the School of Fashion textile department.
Yun Ling Tham Timmy, BFA Textile Design
Fashion School Daily: What is your style motto?
Yun Ling Tham Timmy: It could always be worse, so be thankful for what you do have.


Cherish Bai, BFA Womenswear Design
FSD: What advice would you give student who want to do collection?
Cherish Bai: No pain, no gain.

Meeneshwer Madhu, BFA Menswear Design
FSD: Ignoring the cost, what item would you buy right now?
Meeneshwer Madhu: A pint of Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Therapy.

Sylvia Rivera, BFA Womenswear Design
FSD: Which talent would you most like to have?
Sylvia Rivera: The ability to “read” someone as fast as a drag queen.

Jayme Goodman, BFA Womenswear Design
FSD: What is the best advice you have ever received?
Jayme Goodman: My mom once said, “just try it, you might end up liking sewing.”

Soji Solarin, BFA Menswear Design
FSD: Which talent would you most like to have?
Soji Solarin: Never-ending patience.

Yuki Zhang, BFA Womenswear Design
FSD: What is the best advice you have ever received?
Yuki Zhang: Maya Angelou’s saying: “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”

Neysa Makizuru, BFA Jewelry Design
Written by Angela Han, BA Fashion Journalism.