GOING BEYOND THE FRAME

The past year was nothing short of phenomenal change. After a year of isolation, face coverings, endless Zoom calls and hearing the phrases “new norm” and “unprecedented times,” it’s time for an escape. This year, the 77th annual The Collections fashion presentation is here to provide a bit of normalcy in a not-so-normal time. While this won’t take the form of our typical fashion shows, the same love and passion for the art of fashion that goes into each collection and show is intertwined in each garment.

This year, The Collections fashion presentation will take you on that much-needed escape “Beyond the Frame,” and into an endless world of wonder that will allow you to explore whatever it is you’ve been yearning for within the past year. Whether you’re looking for connection, a new realm of fantasy, the confidence to embrace a new adventure, or to experience the glamour of a new decade, this year’s presentations will allow you to escape to those new places you’ve been longing for.

Since the Fall 2020 semester, fashion design and product development seniors have been ideating, planning, and executing an entire collection to share with the world. They’ve spent countless hours in labs, staying awake sewing until the early hours of the morning, they’ve stitched and restitched, endlessly fit models, and additional embellishments, all in the hopes of completing a perfect collection.

We will not be holding a fashion show this year, but these seniors still deserve the hours of work and love they’ve poured into these collections to be seen. And while we miss watching models flow down the runway in each garment, the fashion faculty and fashion show production students have created a safer way to share The Collections. Together, the fashion faculty and fashion show production class are working to create short films to showcase senior collections and a gallery exhibition to share garments and ensembles created by all of the fashion design and product development students. Together, with your support, we will welcome and celebrate the brilliant work of our students.

As you admire each garment made by the skilled hands of our fashion design students, we hope you’re transported to new places, beyond the frame that you’re living in every day. An escape from our current reality is overdue, so join us as we step into a new world of endless wonder and embrace a new way of celebrating our seniors.