Academy of Art University 2025 Graduating Class Presents ‘Origins of Belief’ Annual Fashion Show
Gap Inc. to be First Company to Receive an Honorary Doctorate
(Wednesday, May 7, 2025 – San Francisco, CA) – Academy of Art University is thrilled to present ‘Origins of Belief’ at its annual fashion show spotlighting thought-provoking collections from the School of Fashion’s graduating class of 2025. The Origins of Belief show will take place in downtown San Francisco and be live streamed to the public at 7:00 PM PST on Thursday, May 8th, 2025, inviting both local fashion creatives and global fashion followers to enjoy extraordinary work from the next generation of fashion visionaries
“We are thrilled to showcase the talents of 17 of our school’s finest fashion and textile designers in this year’s fashion show, ‘Origins of Belief.’” said Elisa Stephens, President at Academy of Art University. “In addition, we are proud to celebrate our relationship with Gap Inc. by awarding the company an honorary doctorate. Gap Inc.’s mentorship program helps prepare our fashion students for success, and the company’s contributions to the creative industry and culture of San Francisco are unparalleled.”
The evening opens with Gap Inc., a house of iconic brands and the largest specialty apparel company in America, represented by Sarah Holme, Head of Design & Product Development at Old Navy, receiving an honorary doctorate from President Stephens. This recognition will acknowledge decades of Gap Inc. contributing to industry and culture in San Francisco. In the last two years, the company offered mentorship programs and internships to many School of Fashion’s students and graduates while helping students build skills with industry-leading digital design tools.
“Gap Inc. honors its San Francisco heritage by supporting the local creative community and empowering skilled designers and makers. Our ongoing relationship with Academy of Art University is key to nurturing the next generation of creative talent in San Francisco, ensuring the region remains a hub of innovation and artistic expression for generations to come,” said Sarah Holme, Head of Design & Product Development at Old Navy.
In the last two years the company offered mentorship programs and internships to many School of Fashion’s students and graduates. The Executive Director of the School of Fashion, Neil Gilks thanks Gap Inc. for continuous support: “Gap Inc has proven to be a powerful partner and a trusted San Francisco neighbor, supporting numerous efforts and opportunities for partnership. Their teams offer considerable energies and learning for our School of Fashion community”
The Honorary Doctorate ceremony will be followed by a celebration of collections from eighteen young designers, each representing their own unique journeys and design beliefs in fashion.
Notable Designs in the collection are those of:
MFA Costume Designer Patric Yikun Wang, celebrating drag and the art of transformation.
BFA Knitwear designer Dominic Godina’s collection “Memory of the Waters” is inspired by the feeling of being nurtured when connecting with nature. BFA Fashion Designer Haemi Lee and BFA Textile Designer Claudia Ayleen Nicholas unite their beliefs for a collection named The Shape of God, aiming to represent the sublime nature of the Christian God. MFA Fashion Designer Chase Duval-Champagne’s work intricately depicting the journey of a neurodivergent individual grappling with anxiety within the creative realm. BFA Fashion Designer Vanda Ouyan’s concept takes the audience on a journey of what one can imagine what stars would smell like. Meet all designers in the show and read thei bios at AcademyArt.edu/runway and on Instagram at @AcademyUFashion.
In mastering their craft, the young designers were mentored by the School of Fashion’s faculty and the members of the University’s Fashion Industry Advisory Board, a specialized group of industry professionals that includes Kate Wallace, Integrated Design and Sustainability strategist, Master of Science in Sustainable Fashion; Helen Bullock, fashion Illustrator and print designer (last year collaborations include Bottega Veneta and Burberry), Justin Newlin, Director for Executive Search for Creative, Design and Product at PVH: Calvin Klein + Tommy Hilfiger, and Simon O’Mahoney, Head of Creative Talent Acquisition, Gap Inc. Advisory Board members bios are published at FashionSchoolDaily.com
The 2025 Academy of Art “Origins of Belief” Fashion Show is by invitation only. The live stream of the event is free to access by RSVP here.
A selection of hi-res images with their credits and designer sketches can be found here. at AcademyArt.edu/Runway.
For more information, please visit https://www.academyart.edu
About Academy of Art University
Established in 1929, Academy of Art University is one of the largest private, accredited art and design schools in the nation. As one of the oldest art schools located in San Francisco, the epicenter of culture and technology, Academy of Art University offers more than 129 accredited degree programs—available online and on-campus—spanning 70 areas of study, including entertainment arts, advertising, fashion, architecture, game development, music, communications, photography, and more.
About Gap Inc.
Gap Inc., a house of iconic brands, is the largest specialty apparel company in America. Its Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta brands offer clothing, accessories, and lifestyle products for men, women and children. Since 1969, Gap Inc. has created products and experiences that shape culture, while doing right by employees, communities and the planet. Gap Inc. products are available worldwide through company-operated stores, franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. Fiscal year 2024 net sales were $15.1 billion. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.
Watch last year’s show on YouTube:
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About the School of Fashion
Students pursuing a Fashion Design degree from the Academy of Art University learn from the finest creative minds working in fashion today. They 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 School of Fashion offers degrees in the following areas of specialization: Fashion Design for Womenswear, Menswear, and Childrenswear; 3D Design and Pattern Making; Textile Design (including Knitwear Design); Costume Design; Fashion Journalism; Social Media Management; Fashion Marketing (and Brand Management); Fashion Art Direction; Fashion Styling; Fashion Merchandising (and Management); and Fashion Product Development.
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, Athleta, Azzedine Alaïa, Banana Republic, BCBG Max Azria, Bill Blass, Blanc de Chine, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Corso Como 10, Chloë, Diane von Fürstenberg, Donna Karan, Gap, Kate Spade, Kiton, L.A.M.B., L’Ecole Lesage Paris–Atelier de Broderie, Levi Strauss & Co., Liz Claiborne, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Marchesa, Martin Margiela, Martine Sitbon, Missoni, Neiman Marcus Group, 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, Giles Deacon, 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, Designer, and David Ballu, 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 America, Rosita and Tai Missoni, Angela Missoni, Margherita Missoni, Buxton Midyette, 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, Livia Stoianova and Yassen Samouilov, Founders of On Aura Tout Va, Carla Sozzani, Philip Treacy, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dirk van Saene, Trino Verkade, CEO of Sarabande: The Alexander McQueen Foundation, Andre Walker, 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
For over 25 years, Neil Gilks, Executive Director, has committed his career to design and its education. As a fashion designer, Gilks worked through the ranks to Design Director for brands in London and New York. He thrives on building – whether working on launching new labels or recognizing the needs and areas for evolution in established companies. Beyond creating menswear and womenswear collections for the global markets, a dedication to fashion design education has allowed Gilks to attain leadership roles with top-tiered fashion design programs globally. As Director of Educational Initiatives with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), Gilks was charged with creating opportunities and mentorship for students and faculty within 21 design institutions domestically. Gilks cites continuing his own artistic practice as crucial – allowing him to retain a creative outlet while further exploring the space where his art, commerce, and social commentary intersect. Since his arrival as Executive Director of the School of Fashion at Academy of Art University in the Fall of 2022, Gilks has been learning how his experience and insight can best serve our community. The learning experience is of the utmost importance to Gilks, as he strives towards making it the most robust and successful time for faculty and students alike. He holds a BA in Womenswear Design from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London as well as dual MA degrees in Womenswear Design and Menswear Design.
Gary Miller, Director of Fashion Design, has experience in New York and London as a fashion director, with career beginnings in the midnineties. 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 the 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), Helen Story, and Michiko Koshino. Miller holds a BFA in Fashion Design with Textiles from Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication in the UK and an MFA in Fine Art Painting and Drawing from Academy of Art University.
Jinah Oh, Director of Fashion Merchandising, earned her MBA in Marketing at Golden Gate University in San Francisco, as well as a B.S. in Clothing and Textiles and a BA in Philosophy from EWHA Women’s University in Seoul, Korea. She has extensive experience in international fashion and luxury brands and fashion education. With Escada Asia, she developed business and market strategies, managed merchandising and buying for multiple brands, and pioneered and initiated brick-and-mortar and e-commerce channel development. Later with Cartier, Richemont Korea Ltd., Oh led retail operations and all aspects of retail marketing activities for the Korean market. After joining the Academy’s School of Fashion, Oh built and continues to oversee the Fashion Business programs, including Merchandising, Marketing, and Product Development programs.
Iliana Ricketts, Online Director, was appointed Director of Online Fashion in 2014. She was previously Assistant Director of Online Fashion in 2009 and held the position of Fashion Department Coordinator since 2005. Prior to arriving in the US, Ricketts was an established designer in her country of Bulgaria. Ricketts received her MFA in Fashion Design from Academy of Art University. She received a BFA from Training Centre Calagia and an MFA 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 helped launch the product line GGblue. Under her creative direction, GGblue became one of the most successful fashion-forward brands in the golf and leisure industry.
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School of Fashion – Press Contact
Elena Eberhard, Fashion Journalism Coordinator: EEberhard@academyart.edu
