Xiang Zhang is from Shanghai, China, where he received a B.F.A. in Fashion Design from the Shanghai University of Engineering Science. He worked as an assistant knitwear designer at Nova Apparel Taiwan and as a senior knitwear designer at Shaghai Datura Fashion Co. before earning his M.F.A. in Knitwear Design from the Academy of Art University. Previously, he collaborated on a collection with fellow alumnus Louie Llewellyn, which debuted during the Academy of Art University Spring 2011 Fashion Show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. For his current collection, Xiang was inspired by Plato’s philosophy that the highest form of beauty can be explained by principles of mathematics. He used Plato’s theory of the golden rectangle, in which the ratio of the long edge to the short edge equals the golden ratio, to determine the proportions of designs, as well as the number of stitches and their orientation within the pattern. He used cashmere, mohair, and silk throughout the collection.

We are so excited to announce that School of Fashion alumnae Bethany Meuleners and Sabah Mansoor Husain have been selected to participate in the Macy’s Fashion Incubator program in San Francisco! The program, sponsored by Macy’s West, allows designers to rent sewing workshops at Macy’s and work with fashion, business, and retail experts to build their line.

Bethany and Sabah both graduated from the Academy of Art University in 2010 with Master’s of Fine Arts degrees in Fashion and Knitwear Design. Both designers showed their collections during the Academy of Art University Fall ’10 Fashion Show at New York Fashion Week.

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We are loving these images from the gr.dano Fall ’12 lookbook! For those of your who don’t know, gr.dano is a local line by alumna Jill Giordano (2004 B.F.A. Fashion Design graduate) with fellow designer Brian Scheyer. The leather details and trim are perfection, adding just enough of an edge. And the pleats and draping are sophisticated and utterly gorgeous. We can’t wait to get our hands on these pieces – can someone please invent a time-machine so we can fast-forward a few seasons?

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In today’s Monday Morning Photos, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite looks from last night’s Screen Actors Guild Awards. There were lots of gorgeous jewel tones, as well as several stunning gowns (and one jumpsuit) in soft shades of white and cream. Who do you think was best dressed? Tell us in the comments below!

Stacy Keibler in Marchesa.

Emily Blunt in Oscar de la Renta.

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Karl Lagerfeld’s collection for Net-a-Porter, simply titled Karl, launched yesterday with pop-up stores and parties in Paris, New York, Sydney, Berlin and London. In an interview with Vogue’s Hamish Bowles, Lagerfeld explained that the collection was an expression of his style and taste – he designed clothes that he likes.

The collection of mostly black and white sleek separates flew off shelves yesterday, and several designs are already sold out online. The price-point is much more accessible than Chanel, but it will still set you back a few (average price for an item is around $250). Proving that the line really is all about Karl, he even interviewed himself in a promotional video.

Which items are you coveting? Tell us in the comments below!

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Cristina Palomo and Megan Papay. Photo Courtesy of John Aquino.

School of Fashion alumna Cristina Palomo is launching a shoe line for Fall ’12, in partnership with friend and fellow designer Megan Papay. The Freda Salvador Fall ’12 collection features gorgeous flats and boots – your everyday staples, with a twist! The shoes are made from Brazilian leather and pony hair, and are manufactured in El Salvador and Gautemala. Many of the styles are transformable – a gorgeous oxford becomes a polished loafer by simply unsnapping a leather vamp cover. Perfect for any girl on the go!

Palomo and Papay were inspired by their travels to Italy and Brazil, and the amazing style of the local people. Describing the aesthetic of the brand, Papay said: “We want [the brand] to be fresh based on the look and quality of our shoes, which is very important, but it’s also a lifestyle.” Can’t wait until they hit stores this August!

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Another gorgeous photoshoot from Flore Morton’s Styling 1 Class – Nomad’s Land. School of Fashion students Cara Andotaw, Kristen Pohle, and Clara Sun were inspired by the bohemian lifestyle and collaborated with photography student Caro Ramirez on the project. They also enlisted the help of artist Jeremiah Allen Welch who painted the beautiful body art!

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L-R: Gabriel Yanez and Miguel Lopez, owners of Sui Generis {Ille} and {Illa}. Photo Courtesy of Russell Yip/The Chronicle.

For our latest Industry Interview, we sat down with Miguel Lopez, who owns, Sui Generis – a high-end consignment boutique, with his partner Gabriel Yanez. Brought together by their love of fashion, Miguel and Gabriel moved to the U.S. from Mexico in 2000, and tirelessly worked to turn their dream of owning a store into a reality. They now own two stores, Sui Generis {Ille} and Sui Generis {Illa}, for men and women respectively, and just opened their online shop. You can find amazing designer pieces from seasons past, those items you regret not buying the second they hit shop floors – and at a fraction of the cost. These gems, located in the Castro, are not to be missed!

What was your work experience prior to opening Sui Generis?

I moved to San Francisco in 2000, and at the time my first job was hosting at a restaurant in downtown. While I was working at the restaurant I walked by Max Mara, and there was a sign that said they were looking for a back-stock person. So I applied and got the job, and then started doing back-stock there. I worked my way up, six or eight months later I was working on the floor as an assistant to the manager. And then in less than a year I was selling on the floor, and I became one of the top sellers there.

I was then recruited by Ralph Lauren’s West Coast director to work in their store. I felt like it was a great opportunity to learn even more so I moved there, and became a senior seller within the first year and worked there for seven years. But the whole time I knew that eventually I wanted to have my own store in San Francisco, even before I moved here. It was all leading up to that, just trying to learn as much as I could.

And so during my last two years working at Ralph Lauren, my partner and I opened our first small store on Church Street.

Why did you and Gabriel decide to open a designer consignment and vintage store, as opposed to selling new merchandise?

One of the reasons was capital. While I was at Ralph Lauren, my partner Gabriel was working as a buyer, selling to a lot of the re-sale shops like Crossroads and Wasteland on upper Haight, and he was able to make his living from that. So he started learning a lot about vintage pieces and was finding some really great stuff that he kept and started collecting. So when we decided to open the store, he already had 500 pieces and that is what we opened the shop with, and it didn’t take a lot of investment.

When we first started out, it was more about finding the great pieces and bringing them to the city to have all in one place. And since then we have just grown and gone where the business has taken us.

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In today’s Alumni Update, we catch up with Cara Chiappetta, who graduated from the School of Fashion in 2011 with an M.F.A. in Fashion Design. She now has a job that she absolutely loves and learns from everyday! Read on to find out more!

You debuted your senior collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week S/S 2011 – what was the experience like?

In one word: surreal. In three: a great honor. I remember working in NYC in 2000 near Bryant Park and walking past the white tents in the chilly-city early mornings promising myself that I too, would be under those tents- as a designer. I just never expected it happen so soon, and at Lincoln Center, no less. It was a promise I kept with myself and I am so grateful for the opportunity and as a designer, so grateful to have not let myself down. And so grateful to represent my brilliant Directors, professors, and fellow students at the Academy of Art University. The experience overall was very stressful, very challenging and yet, all the more enlightening.

What were the most valuable lessons you learned while creating your collection and presenting it in New York?

Flexibility, respecting and adhering to deadlines, adaptability, and that asking questions are key. Oh! And happy accidents. Happy accidents are so precious – I learned the actual process has its own fuel and to embrace the amazing unexpected things that happen along the way. My best work probably stems from those “I think I thought I did, but what just happened? …because that looks good!” As much as I seem to function as a type A personality- which I think helped me along the way- I let myself get lost in the design process. I learned my valuable lesson of letting go. It was a special time for me. I had the freedom to revisit and analyze everything I ever loved in this great big world and everything that ever inspired me. I was able to identify myself as process-based; I had to go from A-Z, to circle back and find E. If that makes sense. We were taught the tools in school, and I relied on them to tap into what defined me as a designer. That was exciting; suddenly my habits from the past began to make sense. I knew I was exactly where I supposed to be, which was probably why I exhausted all options and opportunities throughout the program. Gonbee at one time declared I was masochistic – but I still argue that it was my time to really push myself.

I had to make a last minute change ten days before the show; it was a bit daunting at the time, but taught me the most invaluable lesson of crisis management. I had to remake six pieces in the collection – for reasons I should have reasoned through prior. But hindsight is 20/20. I would not change what I went through. Honestly, that part of the process has really helped me in the most stressful situations. I refuse to allow myself to get into this “fickle-pickle.” I now have a very calm demeanor – even more so than before – and am able to think clearly in hectic situations. I made a pact with myself that I will never let myself cry, consume copious amounts of Cheetos, and call my mom like I did that one afternoon – as I attempted to source new fabric ideas in Berkeley. Never. Will. I. Again. (Until the work is complete, of course.) I lost 3 precious hours that day that I could have used to keep moving forward. As long as I gave 110% effort, I knew I wouldn’t look back with regrets. And I don’t, which is very settling.

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Today’s Monday Morning Photos features some of the standout looks from the Dior Spring ’12 Haute Couture Collection. Since John Galliano’s departure last spring, there has been a flurry of speculation as to who would replace the talented designer. For the past two seasons, Bill Gaytten, Galliano’s right hand man, has been at the helm, but many felt he lacked the vision and confidence to carry the iconic brand – but this collection may prove otherwise. He turned out stunning gowns and cocktail dresses, and wearable day suits referencing the signature Dior look. “It’s meant to be x-ray Dior,” Gaytten explained. “All of the structure of iconic Dior… but all of it see-through.” Does this mean that the speculation as to who will fill Galliano’s shoes is over? We’ll have to wait and see!

What are your thoughts on the collection? Tell us in the comments below!

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