San Francisco, CA, May 13, 2016 — The School of Fashion at Academy of Art University honored Kate and Laura Mulleavy, founders of Rodarte, at the 2016 Graduation Fashion Show on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Kate and Laura Mulleavy were each presented with an Honorary Doctorate degree from Academy of Art University by University President, Dr. Elisa Stephens, as well as a Certificate of Honor from the Office of the Mayor of San Francisco, Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “My goal has always been to bring visionaries to School of Fashion, people who have changed the landscape. Kate and Laura Mulleavy have done just that with Rodarte; they have brought attention back to beautiful, considered, and thought provoking clothing in American fashion,” said Simon Ungless, Executive Director of the School of Fashion. “All of our past Honorary Doctors have gone against the flow and made monumental changes to the way we dress and the way we think. McQueen, Westwood, Gaultier and Alaïa have all broken the rules at some point, and I see the Mulleavys doing that now.” The fashion show featured collections from students who majored in the areas of Fashion Design, Knitwear Design, Menswear Design, Technical Design, Textile Design and Jewelry/Metal Arts. Select M.F.A. and B.F.A. graduating students will present their work to industry professionals and recruiters at the President’s Reception and Portfolio Review before the fashion show. The fashion show was live streamed and may be viewed at http://www.academyart.edu/Runway In advance of the fashion show, the School of Fashion hosted two discussions for students. The first was moderated by Academy of Art University Director of Social Media Center & Fashion Journalism Stephan Rabimov and feature special guests Mickey Boardman, Editorial Director of Paper Magazine, and Lars Byrresen Petersen, Digital Director of Visionaire. The second discussion was moderated by Simon Ungless and Christine Suppes, couture collector and co-author of Skira-Rizzoli’s Electric Fashion, and featured guests of honor Kate and Laura Mulleavy. With our ongoing commitment to providing real world experience in the studio for our students, the show featured collaborative collections beginning with the SHOP657 Collection which is a private label collaborative collection between Fashion Design, Textile Design, Jewelry & Metal Arts, and Fashion Merchandising students. SHOP657 is the School of Fashion’s retail store that features student, alumni, and faculty product. The store is located at 657 Sutter Street, near Union Square, in San Francisco.
In addition to the SHOP657 Collaborative Collection, other collaborations include: • A Fashion Design and Knitwear Design collaboration • Three Fashion and Textile Design collaborations – two of which are Menswear Collections • Two Fashion Design and Jewelry & Metal Arts collaborations • Two collections with beading by students who studied Tambour Beading
SHOP657 Private Label Collaborative Collection:
This private label collection embraces concepts of sustainability by repurposing the backing cloth from the textile lab print tables combined with locally sourced materials. After the show, Fashion Merchandising students will select pieces for local production to be sold at the Academy of Art University retail story SHOP657, located at 657 Sutter Street, in September. The students who worked together on creating the collection were inspired by the commute downtown through the Tenderloin, and the animated classic Alice in Wonderland, as both are quite the journey. They wanted to capture the grit and grime of the Tenderloin, a staple of San Francisco’s history and vibe, as their wonderland and that is shown through the use of bold prints, obscure proportions, and shapes. The designers include: Cherish Bai, BFA Fashion Design, Jayme Goodman, BFA Fashion Design, Meeneshwer Madhu, BFA Menswear Design, Sylvia Rivera, BFA Fashion Design, Soji Solarin, BFA Menswear Design, Yuki Zhang, BFA Fashion Design, Yun Ling Tham Timmy, BFA Textile Design, and Neysa Makizuru, BFA Jewelry & Metal Arts.
Wen Jiang, B.F.A. Fashion Design, was born and raised in Shen Yang. Architecture was Jiang’s main source of inspiration. While developing her concept, Jiang envisioned the linear and angular designs of some of the world’s most breathtaking structures. This graphic approach prompted her to construct her collection entirely out of wool. Perhaps one of the most striking elements in her garments are the color blocked, hand-pressed pleating that pays homage to Munich based photography Nick Frank’s vivid geometric images.
Menswear Design and Textile Design Collaboration:
Annie Yang, B.F.A. Menswear Design, was born and raised in Taiwan. Inspired by the illusionary work of Brazil-based artist Daniel Steegmann, Yang’s mission was to design a trompe l’oeil collection that imparts the beauty and relativity of space. With the help of BFA Textile Design student, Jasmine Juewei Xu, Yang was able to create oversized, multilayered garments that produce a distorted perspective. Jasmine Xu, B.F.A. Textile Design, is a Kunming, China native who, after years at the School of Fashion, has become a textile savant. Her designs have been featured in Academy of Art University’s SHOP657. Xu is an idiosyncratic artist who likes to think outside the box. For Yang’s collection, Xu used baby powder on cotton twill and cotton sateen to give the fabrics an element of interest. The result is a unique fading texture that perfectly complements Yang’s voluminous designs.
Xiuzhen Li, B.F.A. Fashion Design, was born in Wenzhou and raised in Xiangtan. During her studies, Li interned at Simple Pair, a San Francisco based fashion label launched by 2012 MFA Fashion Design alumna Jessie Liu. For her collection, Li was infatuated with the notion of decay. Looking at moss-covered trees and rotted walls, Li started to ruminate on the synchronicity of growth and deterioration and was drawn to the unique, organic patterns and textures that came about as a result of nature’s opposing forces. Li expresses this intrinsic duality of life and decay through layers of beads, lace, and felt. The beading was done by Alvin Ang and Amy Tzu Chen Hsu, both BFA Fashion Design, who studied Tambour Beading at the School of Fashion.
Vanessa Nash-Spangler, B.F.A. Fashion Design, was born in Germany and was raised in Chandler, Arizona. Her collection was inspired by the Fibonacci Sequence and hexagons. Nash-Spangler is very familiar with textiles as she worked with Britex for a period of time while in school. With a mathematical inspiration and a focus on craftsmanship, the garments all relate back to geometry. On top of the artisanal quality of the designs, the eye-catching collection features vibrant colors in lightweight materials such as tulle, silk and organza. The designs feature a dreamy quality with lightweight, ethereal materials and oversized ruffles and flowers.
Fashion Design and Jewelry & Metal Arts Collaboration:
Busara Boussard, B.F.A. Fashion Design, was born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand. Her accomplishments include being selected as a winner of the YMA FSF Young Menswear Association Fashion Scholarship Fund in 2015 & 2016. Winning the scholarship in 2015 led her to acquire a summer internship with Ralph Lauren in New York. For her collection, entitled “Rude Locker”, Boussard was influenced by the colors, shapes and architectural details of the EPM Museum in Seattle. She also looked to the uniforms and equipment from the sport of Lacrosse for inspiration. The colorful collection stands out through its implementation of interesting drapery and color blocking. Eirin Midtskogseter, B.F.A. Jewelry & Metal Arts, was born in Norway. On top of pursuing her degree in Metal Arts she has attained a Bachelors degree in Teacher Training in Art and Design, which she received in 2013. Midtskogseter’s jewelry designs were featured in the 2015 University wide Spring Show exhibition which showcases all areas of study, her designs placed third for the School of Jewelry & Metal Arts. The starting point for her jewelry designs began with understanding the overall aesthetic goal of the clothing. She created pieces that transcend traditional jewelry such as shoulder jewelry and a full arm showstopper that go hand in hand with Boussard’s clothing.
Ben Ellis, B.F.A. Menswear Design, is an artist and adventurer, a free spirit with a diverse skillset who has traveled all over the world. Born and raised in the breathtaking landscape of Anchorage, Alaska, Ellis has strong ties to his community and environment. Having seen first hand the dramatic deterioration of the native Alaskan habitat, Ellis upholds ethical and sustainable practices in his own design work. His graduation collection is inspired by the Fauvism oeuvre of French artist Andre Derain. Ellis employed durable, functional fabrics like denim and jersey for the majority of his designs, as he believes fashion should not only look good, but feel good, too. He even took an extra eco-friendly step and repurposed fabric from thrift stores and donated t-shirts for his collection. He was awarded the 2016 California Fashion Foundation Scholarship for Menswear.
Sophie Cheng, B.F.A. Fashion Design, was born and raised in Hong Kong. During her time at the Academy of Art University, Sophie completed a design assistant internship with Powell & Mason. For her debut collection, entitled “Elusive”, Sophie found inspiration from the Antelope Canyon and the Hopi Tribe. The collection features a focus on fabrics to truly convey the theme, Cheng designed the textiles detail by laser cutting and etching patterns that were taken directly from the inspiration. The garments feature ombre strings that were hand dyed by Cheng, and this design detail can be seen all throughout the collection. The strings allowed for interesting drapings and were complimented by asymmetrical aspects, ruffles and a creamy pastel color palette.
Karin Kate Wong, B.F.A. Fashion Design, was born in Macau, China. After earning an Associate of Arts in Fashion Design in 2013, Wong decided to further her fashion career pursuit at the Academy of Art University. While working towards her degree, she interned at both gr.dano in Sausalito, a line by 2004 B.F.A. Fashion Design alumna Jill Giordano, and earned a position as the womenswear design intern at Public School in New York City. For her collection, Wong sought an inspiration that held significance for her. She chose the theme “bed”. She forewent buttons and zippers, instead opting for ties and elastics as closures for more comfort. The looks feature silky, soft fabrics amplified by silver lamé accents. A sense of laid back comfort and sexuality is brought to life through the draping and backless cuts.
Ke Zhang, B.F.A. Menswear Design, was born in Taizhou in Zhejiang China and grew up in Taizhou, Beijing, and Guangzhou. While at the Academy of Art University, Zhang completed a paid internship with the North Face. His technical ability paired with his knowledge of fabrics has been a driving factor for his design career thus far. Zhang also boasts his ability in tailoring, corsetry and casual wear. Inspired by KoreanAmerican Artist Do Ho Suh, the garments in his collection were influenced by Suh’s translucent fabrics sculptures. The collection is made up of extremely light-weight, see-through fabrics such as organdy, which were designed with interesting seaming details. Many of the pieces in the collection are pajama inspired slim fitting silhouette garments such as the 1900s men’s undergarments inspired leggings.
Fashion Design and Knitwear Design Collaboration
Febri Artha Jayanti, B.F.A. Fashion Design, is from Jakarta, Indonesia. In 2013, Jayanti interned at Jakarta- based fashion retailer, Valino Donna, and worked backstage at Jakarta Fashion Week. For her collection, Jayanti collaborated with B.F.A. Knitwear Design student Rebecca Dovenryd Almberg. Jayanti’s designs are inspired by the burnt and ravaged artworks by American artist Valerie Hegarty. Bold, structured padded shoulders and asymmetrical pleats evoke images of Hegarty’s scorched paintings and contorted frames. By incorporating variations of knitwear pieces, Jayanti was able to make her structured and tailored collection fresh and modern. Rebecca Dovenryd Almberg, B.F.A. Knitwear Design, was born and raised in Skövde, Sweden, the sleek minimalistic fashion sensibility synonymous with Nordic design seems to come naturally to Almberg. Having already worked at the likes of Marville, Ralph Lauren, and Acne Studios New York City, Almberg is well on her way to making a name for herself. Almberg’s knit designs were created in collaboration with B.F.A. Fashion Design student Febri Artha Jayanti. The attire worn by nuns of the Catholic institution, Daughters of Charity, in 1910 inspired the silhouettes and yokes of her collection. For Almberg, every stitch has its own character, so she let the natural life of each stitch inspire and shape her garments.
Fashion Design and Textile Design Collaboration
Regina J. Yoon, B.F.A. Fashion Design, was born and raised in Busan, South Korea. During her time at the School of Fashion, Yoon interned at San Francisco-based fashion boutique, Harputs’ Own. Her design philosophy is centered on creating something new, yet timeless, as she aims to infuse a neo-futuristic element into all of her creations. For her collection, Yoon collaborated with B.F.A. Textile Designer Jadi Haynes and designed six looks inspired by the styles and ideologies of ancient and contemporary Korean shamanism. Yoon used cotton, laser cut pleather, and five variations of broderie anglaise to construct a series of exaggerated silhouettes that speak to the past, present, and future. Jadi Haynes, B.F.A. Textile Design, grew up in Elk Grove, California. In 2014, Haynes participated in the annual Discarded to Divine charity auction that took place at the de Young Museum and benefited the St. Vincent De Paul Society. For this collaborative collection with Regina J. Yoon, Florals were Jadi’s main inspiration, but she chose to abstract them to the point of obscurity. The beading for the collection was done by Jessica Victoria Wijaya, B.F.A. Fashion Design, who studied Tambour Beading in the School of Fashion.
Brandon Kee, B.F.A. Menswear Design, grew up in Murray, Utah. Kee’s menswear collection is a combination of oversized baggy cuts mixed with aviation inspired details that pay homage to 90s hip hop and Chinese anti-gravity pilot suits of the 1970s. Kee went one step further and created an inside-out appeal by fashioning the reverse side of jacquard fabric into pale yellow jumpsuits, washed violet pants, and light pink coats. In 2013, he was a finalist in The CFDA / Teen Vogue Scholarship program.
Jiaqi Lu, B.F.A. Fashion Design, was born and raised in Zhengzhou, China. In spirit of 3D printing, Lu incorporated dimensional, geometric shapes evocative of origami into her dynamic collection. By employing a variety of textiles like crepe silk and textured cotton, Lu was able to construct sculptural designs that are feminine without being too sinuous, sharp without being too stiff.
Justin Moreno, B.F.A. Menswear Design, is a San Francisco native. His designs combine a dichotomy of Eastern and Western traditions as well as blending the lines between masculine and feminine. Drawstring pants bring a sporty edge, while oversized and distressed garments provide a laid back ease. His has worked at A.C.T.’s The Costume Shop, Native Graphix Screen Printing, N.I.C.E Collective, and Scissors and Cloth. Namrata Bhandari, M.F.A. Textile Design, grew up in Mumbai, India. Before her start at the University, she earned a B.F.A. in fashion design in Mumbai, and worked for Miroglio Textiles in Italy. Her experience includes interning at 109F and earning the title of Assistant Designer at Linarika in Mumbai. She took her inspiration for the textiles from the swirling floral fabric typically seen on the skater girls in Kabul. Silk velvet baseball caps, burnout French terry hoodies, and silk jumpsuits elevate this collection and take it from streetwear to streetluxe.
Fashion Design and Jewelry & Metal Arts Collaboration Celine Sohrabian, B.F.A. Fashion Design, was born and raised in Los Angeles. Her concept for her collection was all about distortion of shape, obscurity, and a play on unconventional fabrics. Her collection was worked backwards. From draping and working on the form, she was able to play with misplacements of regular seams and openings to create obscure shapes. The collection is anything but conventional, with unexpected textiles like latex paired with metallic tweed, and designs that play with asymmetrical and oversized aspects. Celine was selected by Kate and Laura Mulleavy for a summer internship at Rodarte. Shuangning Sici Li, B.F.A. Jewelry & Metal Arts, was born and raised in Qingdao, China. For this collaborative collection with Sohrabian, Li created a jewelry collection entitled “Mushroom Circulation” and wanted to elicit a feeling of power with her designs. She used silver, resin and cement for the round shapes and a simple color scheme to compliment the clothing.
In addition to Kate and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte, Mickey Boardman, Editorial Director of Paper Magazine, Lars Byrresen Petersen, Digital Director of Visionaire, and Kim Chappell, Manager of PR and Community Development at Weebly, other guests included Alex Brownless, co-founder Arts Thread, Stephanie Sherwood, College Relations Manager of BCBG Max Azria Group, LLC, Andy Shearer, Senior Design & Innovation Recruiter at adidas, designer Ben Copperwheat, designer Zaid Affas, Jill Guthrie, College Design Recruiter for Abercrombie & Fitch, Katherine DeWitt, HR Manager at Abercrombie & Fitch, Douglas Evans and Colin Turek of YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund, Susan Ferguson, Director of Talent Acquisition at St. John Knits, and Danielle-ah Nakashima, Senior Designer at St. John Knits and 2011 M.F.A. Fashion Design Alumna. Additional recruiters and executives were in attendance from Gap Inc., Old Navy, Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Levi Strauss & Co., and Marmot Mountain.
Student Award Announcements
Kate and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte – Summer Internship
Celine Sohrabian, B.F.A. Fashion Design
The Council of Fashion Designers of America CFDA Scholarship Award – $10,000
Bowen Tian, B.F.A. Fashion Design
Geoffrey Beene Design Scholarship Award Excellence in Technical Design – $5,000
Wei Wang, B.F.A. Fashion Design
Liz Claiborne Design Scholarship Award Excellence in Technical Design – $5,000
Uyen Chloe Tran, B.F.A. Fashion Design
Joe’s Blackbook Scholarship Best Womenswear Portfolio Scholarship – $10,000
Amanda Nyamach, B.F.A. Fashion Design
California Fashion Foundation Scholarship for Menswear
Ben Ellis, B.F.A. Menswear Design – $1,000
Weebly Scholarship for Academy of Art University Fashion Journalism students for the best designed digital Weebly magazines Presented by Kim Chappell, Manager of PR and Community Development at Weebly:
Yarina Yao, M.A. Fashion Journalism – $5,000 Namrata Loka, M.A. Fashion Journalism – $5,000
Mickey Boardman for Paper Magazine – Summer Internship
Sasha Leon, B.F.A. Fashion Journalism
Lars Byrresen Petersen for Visionaire – Summer Internship
Cecilia Zhang, M.A. Fashion Journalism
Flipboard Awards for Academy of Art University Fashion Journalism students with the most followed and engaged Flipboard magazines received iPads:
Faye Harris, M.A. Fashion Journalism Taisiya Vivien Moon, M.A. Fashion Journalism Dairia Kymber Harvin, M.A. Fashion Journalism
San Francisco – Paris Sister City Scholarship Exchange in Paris, France
Study at Studio Berçot
Isaac Onofrei, B.F.A. Technical Design
Kori Johnson, B.F.A. Fashion Design
Study at L’Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne
Vanessa Nash-Spangler, B.F.A. Fashion Design
Alyssa Watson, B.F.A. Fashion Design
New Zealand Exchange at Auckland University of Technology
Wendy Xiaowen Zhang, B.F.A. Knitwear Design
About Academy of Art University
San Francisco Academy of Art University is the largest accredited private art and design university in the nation. Founded in 1929, the school offers accredited AA, BA, BFA, BS, B.Arch*, MA, MFA, and M.Arch degree programs in 29 areas of study, as well as continuing art education, pre-college art experience programs, and teacher grants. Classes are available in Acting, Advertising, Animation & Visual Effects, Architecture, Art Education, Art History, Art Teaching Credential, Automotive Restoration, Costume Design, Fashion, Fashion Journalism, Fashion Styling, Fine Art, Game Development, Game Programming, Graphic Design, Illustration, Industrial Design (Transportation & Product Design), Interior Architecture & Design, Jewelry & Metal Arts, Landscape Architecture, Motion Pictures & Television, Multimedia Communications, Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media, Photography, Studio Production for Advertising & Design, Visual Development, Web Design & New Media, and Writing for Film, Television & Digital Media. Students can also enroll in flexible online degree programs in most areas of study. Academy of Art University is an accredited member of WSCUC, NASAD, CIDA (BFA-IAD, MFA-IAD), NAAB (B.Arch*, M.Arch), and CTC (California Teacher Credential). For more information, visit academyart.edu or call 800.544.2787 (U.S. only) or 415.274.2200. *B.Arch is currently in candidacy status.
About the School of Fashion
Students study under the guidance of experienced fashion professionals in the School of Fashion, which houses the following areas of specialization: Fashion Design for Womenswear, Menswear, and Childrenswear; Technical Design; Textile Design; Knitwear Design; Accessory Design; Costume Design; Fashion Illustration; Fashion Journalism; Fashion Marketing; Fashion Styling; Fashion Merchandising; and Visual Merchandising. The University works with international brands and recruitment agencies on internships and job placement. Graduates have gone on to such companies as Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, Alexander McQueen, Azzedine Alaïa, Banana Republic, BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP, Blanc de Chine, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Corso Como 10, Chloë, Diane von Fürstenberg, Donna Karan, Gap, Kate Spade, Kiton, L.A.M.B., L’Ecole Lesage Paris–Atelier de Broderie, Liz Claiborne, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Martin Margiela, Martine Sitbon, Missoni, Nike, Nordstrom, The North Face, Old Navy, Oscar de la Renta, Phillip Lim, Pottery Barn, Ralph Lauren, Reebok, Roland Mouret, St. John, Threeasfour, Tocca, Viktor & Rolf, and Williams-Sonoma. Guests to the School of Fashion include Azzedine Alaïa, Prosper and Martine Assouline, Max and Lubov Azria of BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP, Yigal Azrouël, Geoffrey Beene, Rose Marie Bravo, Sarah Burton, Andrew Buckler, Julie Chaiken, The Honorable Bertrand Delanoë Mayor of Paris, David Downton, Steven Cox and Daniel Silver of Duckie Brown, Patrik Ervell, Loulou de la Falaise, James Galanos, Neil Gilks of the CFDA, Joan Kaner, Humberto Leon and Carol Lim of Opening Ceremony, Antonio Lopez, Fern Mallis, Alexander McQueen, Rosita and Tai Missoni, Angela Missoni, Margherita Maccapani Missoni, Isaac Mizrahi, Josie Natori, Christina Neault of IMG Fashion, Ian Hannula and Joe Haller of N.I.C.E. Collective, Elisa Palomino, Laure du Pavillon, Zac Posen, Oscar de la Renta, Zandra Rhodes CBE, Ralph Rucci, Nathalie Rykiel, HRH Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Jeremy Scott, Carla Sozzani, Philip Treacy, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dirk van Saene, and Dame Vivienne Westwood DBE, as well as Christophe Girard Director of Fashion Strategy of LVMH Fashion Group, Robin Givhan, Cathy Horyn, and Suzy Menkes.
About School of Fashion Directors
Simon Ungless, Executive Director of the School of Fashion, graduated from Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design in 1992 and was awarded the prestigious M.A. Degree in Fashion with Distinction. He collaborated with Alexander McQueen on the first 10 collections shown in London and New York, and personally introduced Sarah Burton, Creative Director of Alexander McQueen, to the late designer. In 2002, he was named Creative Director of Member Holiday, a Korean-based contemporary brand, launching both men’s and women’s collections with 37 freestanding stores. His work experience spans fashion design, textile design, forecasting, brand development, and marketing for such clients as Givenchy, Paul Smith, and Versace. In addition to his duties as the Executive Director of the School of Fashion overseeing both M.F.A. and B.F.A. programs, he is the editorial director of the School of Fashion’s 180 magazine, as well as the executive producer of the annual Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony in San Francisco and the biannual fashion shows during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center in New York City. Currently, Ungless operates two artisanal design companies, When Simon Met Ralph, which focuses on apparel, and Blackened, which centers on accessories and home. Both projects are the culmination of Ungless’ inspirational development work over his career.
School of Fashion at Academy of Art University
79 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 Call 800.544.2787 (U.S. only) or 415.274.2200
Academy of Art University: www.academyart.edu/ School of Fashion: www.academyart.edu/academics/fashion
Fashion Show Credit Sheet
Executive Producer:
Simon Ungless, Executive Director of the School of Fashion
Events Producer:
Serita Sangimino, Vice President of Student Affairs
Technical Producer:
Jakub Kalousek
Stylist:
Marcell Rocha for Workgroup / workgroup-ltd.com
Make-up:
Victor Cembellin for Workgroup / workgroup-ltd.com
Hair:
Jon Reyman for Spoke & Weal Salon
Model Agencies:
Bratty Model
Cast Images Talent Agency
JE Model
Look Model Agency
Red Model Management
Scout Model & Talent Agency
Stars
The Agency
Social Media Channels
Fashion School Daily: https://fashionschooldaily.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/academyufashion
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AcademyUFashion
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/academyufashion
#AcademyUFashion
In-house Press Contact Ian MacKintosh / 415.618.3849 / imackintosh@academyart.edu
