The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) selects 12 Academy of Art University Graduates for the annual Fashion Future Graduate Showcase to be presented during New York Fashion Week: Men’s from July 9-11, 2018.

San Francisco, CA, July 6, 2018 — Academy of Art University is pleased to announce that 12 recent graduates from the BFA and MFA programs in Fashion Design and Textile Design were selected to present their portfolios at the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Fashion Future Graduate Showcase (FFGS) during New York Fashion Week: Men’s (menswear) from July 9 – 10, 2018. On the following day, July 11, the CFDA will host a group fashion show to highlight four stand-out collections from participating FFGS graduates, including a collection by the University’s School of Fashion alumna, Zhouyi Li, BFA Fashion Design.

The project is titled ‘CFDA x NYCEDC 2018 Fashion Future Graduate Showcase’ and is a hybrid physical and digital showcase for top talent seeking employment and visibility in New York.

It is an extension of the New York City Economic Development Corporation’s ‘Made in New York’ Initiative and the CFDA’s focus on Education and Professional Development. The multi-experience platform is connecting exemplary fashion graduates across all design specializations including: Apparel, Accessories, Jewelry, Textiles/Materials, Technical Design, as well as relevant emerging fashion pathways such as, sustainability and professional opportunities.

This year marks the CFDA’s second annual Fashion Future Graduate Showcase and will take place at Industria Studios In New York from July 9-10. The showcase is integrated into New York Fashion Week: Men’s. The select participants’ portfolios will be available for online viewing for one year, starting Friday, July 6 and ending in July 2019.

Fifty-three recent graduates from eight leading fashion design colleges and universities were selected to participate in the showcase this year; twelve are from the School of Fashion, Academy of Art University.

Additionally, the CFDA organized a group fashion show to highlight four stand-out collections created by designers who are participating in this year’s FFGS. The show will take place on Wednesday, July 11 at Industria Studios in New York. Academy of Art University alumna Zhouyi Li, BFA Fashion Design, will represent the School of Fashion in the group show.

Bio briefs about Academy of Art University’s School of Fashion alumni selected for this year’s CFDA x NYCEDC 2018 FFGS and group fashion show are below the following list of links and contact details.  

Read about CFDA Fashion Future Graduate Showcase at CFDA.com: https://cfda.com/programs/designers/fashion-future-graduate-showcase

Preview the 2018 Fashion Future Graduate Showcase: https://cfda.com/news/preview-the-2018-fashion-future-graduate-showcase

 

Meet Academy of Art University’s Alumni Participating in CFDA x NYCEDC 2018 FFGS

Photos by Mac Shafer

CHANGSHENG YU

@changshengyu.design

Changsheng Yu Design

Changsheng Yu, MFA Fashion Design, is originally from China. After earning his BFA degree in Fashion Design at Academy of Art University in 2014, he worked with designer Masha Ma and helped prepare her fashion show at Paris fashion week. Following, Yu transitioned to work for Yirantian Guo’s brand as a studio manager. After working for the two designers, Yu decided to continue his education in fashion design and returned to Academy of Art University in 2015 for his MFA. In 2017, Yu was one of the finalists of The Metropolitan Museum design competition for Rei Kawakubo’s exhibition. View Changsheng Yu’s Arts Thread Portfolio and Fashion Future Graduate Showcase Portfolio.

 

DENISE RAMOS                        

@dramosdesigns

Denise Ramos and Church J. Iglesias Design

Denise Ramos, BFA Fashion Design, is a Bay Area native from Hayward, California. She honed her tailoring skills working with menswear designer Cecilia Aragon (2008 BFA Fashion Design Alumna), as well as San Francisco-based bespoke men’s suiting companies Tailor’s Keep and Josh’s Tailoring & Design. For the collection, Ramos drew inspiration from her trips to Savile Row and to Girona, Spain (one of the filming locations of HBO’s Game of Thrones). Ramos included traditional men’s tailoring techniques and created a strong silhouette based on the powerful female characters portrayed on Game of Thrones. View Denis Ramos’ Behance Portfolio, Arts Thread Portfolio and Fashion Future Graduate Showcase Portfolio.

JORGE CHURCH IGLESIAS       

@iglesias.studio

Church J. Iglesias, BFA Textile Design, was born in Mexicali, Mexico and grew up in San Jose, California. He has worked with San Francisco-based designer Estrella Tadeo, Mexican-born menswear designer, Bàrbara Sànchez-Kane, and Peter Cassara Clothiers in Sunnyvale, California. Iglesias used gold leaf foil to apply pulled threads on repurposed denim for his textile designs. View Jorge Church Iglesias’ Process Video on YouTube , Online Portfolio and Fashion Future Graduate Showcase Portfolio.

 

JEANNIFER TIRTAMARTA       

@jennitirtamarta

Jeannifer Tirtamarta Design

Jeannifer Tirtamarta, BFA Fashion Design, is from Jakarta, Indonesia. For her graduate collection, Tirtamarta was inspired by the gritty construction areas and the streets of San Francisco. Continuous seam lines and the geometric shapes of her silhouettes reference the on-going building of structures around her. In addition to cotton canvas and denim, Tirtamarta used recycled billboard tarp as the main material for her garments in an attempt to help overcome the abundant amount of waste in the fashion industry. View Jeannifer Tirtamarta’s Online Portfolio and Fashion Future Graduate Showcase Portfolio.

 

HANH NGUYEN                       

@susan_sk

Hanh Nguyen Design

Hanh Nguyen, BFA Fashion Design, was born and raised in Vietnam. She drew inspiration from the work of two abstract artists, thus combining two seemingly opposite aesthetics, minimalism and maximalism. Nguyen used organic cotton in canvas, twill, and organdy for her womenswear designs, and drew inspiration from Paul Kremer’s minimalist Color Field paintings for the silhouette. View Hanh Nguyen’s Online Portfolio and Fashion Future Graduate Showcase Portfolio.

EMILY MCCARTY                     

@emilymcparty

Emily McCarty, BFA Textile Design, was born and raised in the greater Los Angeles, California area. In 2017, she was awarded the Academy of Art University Study Abroad Italy Printmaking Scholarship. McCarty drew inspiration for her print collection while listening to King Krule’s new album The Ooz. She wanted to “construct a visual ode to modern art, with a hint of satire.” The collection became a physical representation of how McCarty sees a theme of balance between harmony and chaos in the modern art world. View Emily McCarty’s Online Portfolio and Fashion Future Graduate Showcase Portfolio.

 

LUSHA WANG                       

@lushawang

Lusha Wang Design

Lusha Wang, MFA Fashion Design, was born and raised in China. Wang studied law as an undergraduate, while simultaneously running her own brick & mortar and online clothing store for the college student demographic. After graduating she worked in online marketing for Samsung Opentide, then moved to Korea and ran an online beauty store selling Korean cosmetics to Chinese customers. Wang was awarded a scholarship to study at the Academy of Art University. While earning her MFA Fashion Design degree, she interned in Novella Bridal as an alterations tailor and at IIMUAHII as a designer assistant.  View Lusha Wang’s Online Portfolio and Fashion Future Graduate Showcase Portfolio.

 

MARISA CHENTAKUL     

@maritextiles

Marisa Chentakul Design

Marisa Chentakul, BFA Textile Design, was born and raised in Bankok, Thailand. Chentakul has experience working in textiles for brands like Teaspoon Studio, Sarin Tgamol Textile Designs, and for Academy Alumna, Maria Korovilas. Her aim was to challenge the textile side of childrenswear for this collection. She designed refined and unique repeats, and engineered prints with children’s ink stamping, playful images, and collages of daring colors and textures. View Marisa Chentakul’s Online Portfolio and Fashion Future Graduate Showcase Portfolio.

 

JESSICA LAI                 

@jessica_lai320

Jessica Lai Design

Jessica Lai, MFA Fashion Design, was born and raised in Taichung, Taiwan. While studying at Shu-te University in Taiwan to earn her BFA Fashion Design, Lai interned in Chia Hui Uniform. During her MFA Fashion Design program at Academy of Art University, Lai interned at Julia Jentzsch design studio in New York.  Lai’s graduate collection is inspired by works of graphic illustrator, Olimpia Zagnoli, and includes packaging design patterns and irregular geometric shapes. View Jessica Lai’s Online Portfolio and Fashion Future Graduate Showcase Portfolio.

 

ZHOUYI LI         

@zhouyi_li

Zhouyi Li Design

Zhouyi Li, BFA Fashion Design, is from Jiangxi, China. In addition to her formal education, Li gained professional experiences during summer breaks, including being the design assistant for Haili Hu Design and Tailoring Studio in Shanghai, China, and also working for Hengxin Garment Weaving Company in Nanchang, China. For her graduate collection, Li drew inspiration from Richard Serra’s sculptures. She used wool and cotton fabrics in black and gradient rust colors. Li built simple and clean 3D shapes that appear to be slicing through the body. The enhanced colors are digitally printed on to the wool fabric. Li’s collection is one of four selected for the CFDA’s FFGS group show on July 11, 2018 in New York.  View Zhouyi Li’s Arts Thread Portfolio and Fashion Future Graduate Showcase Portfolio.

 

ZHIHAN LIU       

@zhihan_n  

Zhihan Liu Design

 Zhihan Liu, MFA Fashion Design, is originally from Jilin, China. Liu graduated from Northeast Normal University (China) in 2013 with a BFA in Fashion Design, receiving awards and scholarships for excellency in her studies, most notably her selection for an award by a pearl design contest in Japan in 2014. Her projects received recognition for her urban aesthetic, and strong skills in jewelry making and design. While studying in Academy of Art University, she participated in Levi’s Made & Crafted contest and was one of the eight finalists selected out of 500 applicants. View Zhihan Liu’s Arts Thread Portfolio and Fashion Future Graduate Showcase Portfolio.

 

MARIO CHINCHILLA        

@mariokvz

Mario Chinchilla Design

A native of Santa Barbara, Honduras, Mario Chinchilla interned at Old Navy and participated in a competition organized by Kornit Digital while studying at Academy of Art University. His textile designs were inspired by an observation of the daily life of one of his friends around San Francisco. The combination of a feeling of ‘being incognito’ and the challenge to ‘be true to ourselves’ represent the dualism between emptiness and fulfillment, distortion and clarity. Chinchilla’s cinematographic digital prints were transformed into a womenswear collection by a group MFA Fashion Design students. View Mario Chinchilla’s Arts Thread Portfolio and Fashion Future Graduate Showcase Portfolio.

 

In-house Press Contacts:

Ian MacKintosh / (415) 618-3849 / imackintosh@academyart.edu

Elena Eberhard / (415) 618-3831 / eeberhard@academyart.edu

Edith Mead Barker / (415) 618-3891 / ebarker@academyart.edu

 

Follow the School of Fashion on Social Media:    #AcademyUFashion    @AcademyUFashion

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About Academy of Art University

Academy of Art University, the largest private university of art and design in the United States, is educating students to excel in the jobs of the 21st century. Established in 1929, the Academy offers accredited degree programs in more than 30 areas of study, as well as continuing art education, pre-college art experience programs, professional development, certificates, and teacher grants. Students are taught by a faculty of professionals from the existing marketplace, both online and on campus in San Francisco. Faculty provide them with an understanding of what it takes to succeed in today’s business environment. The Academy’s hands-on curriculum produces graduates who possess outstanding artistic and design skills, the ability to put those tools to work immediately after graduation, and an entrepreneurial spirit that tends to stick with them for life. AA, BA, BFA, BS, B.Arch, MA, MFA, and M.Arch degree programs are available in Acting, Advertising, Animation & Visual Effects, Architecture, Art Education, Art History, Art Teaching Credential, Automotive Restoration, Costume Design, Drone Production, Fashion, Fashion Journalism, Fashion Marketing, Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Product Development, Fashion Styling, Fashion Visual Merchandising, Fine Art, Game Development, Game Programming, Graphic Design, Illustration, Industrial Design (Transportation, Toy, & Product Design), Interior Architecture & Design, Jewelry & Metal Arts, Landscape Architecture, Motion Pictures & Television, Multimedia Communications, Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media, Photography, Social Media, Studio Production for Advertising & Design, Virtual Reality, Visual Development, Web Design & New Media, Web Development, 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).

 

 

About the School of Fashion

 

Students pursuing a Fashion Design degree from Academy of Art University learn from the finest creative minds working in fashion today, and have access to the tools and cutting-edge facilities needed for creating collections that garner accolades. Fashion students the world over gain experience designing styles that are the future of the industry the following areas of specialization: Fashion Design for Womenswear, Menswear, and Childrenswear; 3D Design and Pattern Making; Textile Design; Knitwear Design; Accessory Design; Costume Design; Fashion Illustration; Fashion Journalism; Fashion Marketing and Brand Management; Fashion Styling; Fashion Merchandising; Fashion Product Development; and Visual Merchandising.

 

The University works with international brands and recruitment agencies for internships and job placement. Graduates have gone on to such companies as Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, Alexander McQueen, Azzedine Alaïa, Banana Republic, BCBG Max Azria, Bill Blass, 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 Zaid Affas, Azzedine Alaïa, Prosper and Martine Assouline, Max and Lubov Azria of BCBG Max Azria Group, Yigal Azrouël, Geoffrey Beene, Rose Marie Bravo, Alex Brownless of Arts Thread, Sarah Burton OBE, Creative Director for Alexander McQueen, Andrew Buckler, Julie Chaiken, Kenneth Cole, 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, Olya Kuryshchuk and Aya Noël of the publication 1 Granary, Lutz Huelle and David Ballu, the President of Lutz Huelle, Lisa Smilor and Sara Kozlowski, both of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Joan Kaner, Humberto Leon and Carol Lim of Opening Ceremony, Antonio Lopez, Fern Mallis, Alexander McQueen, Enrique Meixueiro, Executive Editor of Vogue Mexico and Latin Amerinca, Rosita and Tai Missoni, Angela Missoni, Margherita Missoni, Isaac Mizrahi, Josie Natori, Ian Hannula and Joe Haller of N.I.C.E. Collective, Elisa Palomino, Laure du Pavillon, Lars Byrresen Petersen of Visionaire, Zac Posen, Oscar de la Renta, Zandra Rhodes CBE, Kate and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte, Ralph Rucci, Nathalie Rykiel, HRH Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Jeremy Scott, Carla Sozzani, Philip Treacy, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dirk van Saene, Trino Verkade, CEO of Sarabande: The Alexander McQueen Foundation, and Dame Vivienne Westwood DBE, as well as Christophe Girard Director of Fashion Strategy of LVMH Fashion Group, as well as fashion critics and journalists – Tim Blanks, Mickey Boardman, Alexander Fury, Robin Givhan, Cathy Horyn, Suzy Menkes OBE, Sarah Mower MBE, and Joe Zee.

 

 

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, Portfolio Review, and Scholarship Award Ceremony, and the biannual New York Fashion Week show. 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.

 

Jayne Foster, Graduate Director of Fashion, graduated from The Royal College of Art with a M.A. in Womenswear. She has designed for a private label that showed in London, Paris, and New York. Her freelance clients included House of Fraser, Urban Outfitters, and Whistles. She created a collection of concept designs for Burton Snowboards the main women’s range and the younger B by Burton range, designed textiles for Hop Lun Lingerie, and had her fashion illustration work exhibited in London galleries. Before joining the School of Fashion in 2012, she taught design for eight years in London, and designed for the British brand Monsoon.

 

Gary Miller, Director of Fashion, has more than 16 years of experience in New York and London as a fashion director. His design scope encompasses building and maintaining a brand’s identity, initiating a start-up concept, reinvigorating an existing line, and nurturing an ongoing successful brand. For many years, he worked as a Design Director for men’s sportswear division at Macy’s Merchandising Group in New York. Previously, he worked at The Men’s Wearhouse, Wilke-Rodriguez, Here and There (now part of The Doneger Group), and Michiko Koshino. He holds a B.A. in Fashion Design with Textiles from Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication in the U.K.

 

Jinah Oh, Director of Fashion Merchandising, earned her M.B.A. in Marketing at Golden Gate University in San Francisco, as well as a B.S. in Clothing and Textiles and a B.A. in Philosophy from EWHA Women’s University in Seoul, Korea. She has extensive experience in international fashion and luxury brands. With Escada Asia, she developed business and market strategies, managed merchandising and buying for multiple brands, pioneered and initiated brick and mortar and e-commerce channel development. Later with Cartier, Richemont Korea Ltd., she oversaw retail operations and all aspects of retail marketing activities for the Korean market.

 

Iliana Ricketts, was appointed to Director of Online Fashion in 2014, Assistant Director of Online Fashion in 2009, and held the position of Fashion Department Coordinator since 2005.  Prior to arriving to the U.S., Iliana was established as a recognized designer in her country of Bulgaria. She received her M.F.A. in Fashion Design from Academy of Art University. In 2002, she launched ‘ILYA,’ a designer ready-to-wear label sold nationally in stores such as Henri Bendel. Her line was also seen on the HBO television series, Sex And The City. In 2004, she became head designer of the boutique and golf line GGblue. Under her creative direction, GGblue became one of the most successful and fashion-forward brands in the golf and leisure industry.

 

Stephan Rabimov, Director of Fashion Journalism & Social Media Center, has 15 years of experience in digital and print publishing, journalism, social media, public relations and marketing. He is Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of DEPESHA, and a contributing writer to The Huffington Post and Forbes International. Stephan has lectured at Johns Hopkins University and at The Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology. Stephan was also Executive Fashion Editor for FourTwoNine magazine since May 2011, and Founder of RABIMOV Public Relations Agency since May 2010, successfully launching Thom Browne, Rubin Singer, and Custo Barcelona in Russia. Stephan directly managed the opening of Nicola Formichetti’s pop-up store in New York City as well as produced runway shows featuring emerging international designers during New York, St. Petersburg, Toronto, and Vancouver Fashion Weeks. Stephan has been interviewed and published across dozens of publications, including The New York Times, Russia Beyond The Headlines Edition, Women’s Wear Daily, L’Officiel Ukraine, Vogue Russia, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, CNN, Yahoo Style, Examiner, and The Huffington Post.

 

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Academy of Art University: http://www.academyart.edu/

School of Fashion: http://www.academyart.edu/academics/fashion