Another one for the press books – the students’ collections from the Academy of Art University Graduation Fashion Show were featured in California Apparel News! Jayne Seward, the publication’s fashion editor, wrote a great piece highlighting some looks from the show as well as the internships and awards. Here is a preview:

The fashion show was a high-energy production, showcasing the collections of graduating students, who designed across the categories of womenswear, menswear, knitwear, textiles, accessories and technical design…Design inspiration ranged from Jan van Eyck paintings to Gibson Girls and 1960s horror films. Visibly evident were the craftsmanship, knitwear expertise and printing techniques that are taught at the school.

And, the publication featured a design by Eli Daniel Odisho with textiles by Miram Tolentino on the cover – so amazing!

Head over to California Apparel News to read the entire article.

 Photo by Randy Brooke.

On Thursday, May 3rd the Academy of Art University hosted it’s annual Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony, an unforgettable evening of sartorial splendor. Press, industry, students, family, and friends – not to mention our awesome Guests of Honor – all packed into our new venue at The Cannery for a seriously impressive show. Academy of Art University President, Dr. Elisa Stephens, opened the show, welcoming all of the fashionable attendees and presenting Honorary Doctorates to Sarah Burton, creative director of Alexander McQueen, Philip Treacy, milliner, and Her Royal Highness Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, president and CEO of the ALFA and AL HAMA luxury retail corporations who own and operate Harvey Nichols, Donna Karan, and DKNY stores in Saudi Arabia. The flashbulbs (alright cellphones – but flashbulbs sounds so much cooler) were going wild as our guests took to the stage to receive their honorary degrees. Other front row players included Suzy Menkes, fashion editor of the International Herald Tribune, Cathy Horyn, fashion critic for The New York Times, Stephan Rabimov, editor in chief of DEPESHA magazine, Jayne Seward, fashion editor of California Apparel News, and Katie Hintz-Zambrano, senior editor at Refinery29 – suffice it to say that there were some serious industry heavyweights in the room.

And then it was time for the main attraction – the Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony. The show opened with Renata Lindroos and Mina Fadaie’s collection – a fashion and textile design collaboration inspired by distorted perceptions in 1960s horror films. The architectural pieces looked amazing on the runway, and the prints had everyone mesmerized. Hely Nguyen’s collection followed – a series of structured menswear-inspired looks that play with length and layers. Then it was onto a the collaboration featuring designs by Erica Laba, textiles by Liza Quiñones, and knitwear by Emma Mengchen Yang. The opening look was a sheer, silk organza shirtdress that achieved the perfect balance between prim and provocative. Ethan Chihuan Yang’s minimalist collection featured angular, sculpted silhouettes in dark hues that were simultaneously restrained and dramatic.

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Eli Daniel Odisho grew up in Turlock and Modesto, California, where he attended John H. Pitman High School. He came to the Academy of Art University to earn a B.F.A. in Fashion Design. The collection is a reflection of Odisho’s interpretations of different facets of spirituality – including witches, the Virgin Mary, and a fascination with embellishment – and the silhouettes were influenced by the natural drape of the fabrics. He collaborated with B.F.A. Textile Design student Miriam Tolentino, who created unique denim textiles for the collection.

Miriam Tolentino was born and raised in Santa Cruz, California and attended Santa Cruz High School. She is pursuing a B.F.A. in Textile Design from the Academy of Art University, and took 2^nd place in the Fall 2011 Stylesight Prints and Graphics Contest. She collaborated with B.F.A. Fashion Design student Eli Daniel Odisho, creating unique denim textiles for the collection. Tolentino was inspired by the graphic novel Sin City, translating the textures from Frank Miller’s illustrations onto the textiles.

Follow the jump for The Proust [Fashion] Questionnaires! Read more…

Each year, our students continue to take the top honors in the Sylesight Prints and Graphics Contest – and this year is no exception! School of Fashion students Grace Bratsos, Miriam Tolentino, and Lauren Flex took the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd spots, respectively in the Spring/Summer ’13 competition. We are so proud – amazing job ladies!! Read on to learn a bit more about each of these stellar students and see their swatches!

Two students have won awards for the upcoming Discarded to Divine Fashion Show & Auction which will be on April 29.

Textile Design student Miriam Tolentino’s “If Water Were Ink: Gorillas on the Street” pillow was chosen as the best of Home Décor while Fashion Design student Laone Botshoma’s “Art and Power of the Central African Savanna” piece was chosen as Best Women’s Sportswear.

Miriam’s Pillow

Botshoma’s piece also selected by Renee Baldocchi, Director of Public Programs, and Jill D’Allesandro, Associate curator of the costume and textiles department, of the de Young Museum as one of two Best Museum inspired pieces.

Laone’s piece

“This collection was inspired by the above collection of sculptures in the de Young Museum,” said Botshoma. “It is a collage of different colors and textures from various fabrics to show unity. These Central African sculptures were originally created with the purpose of mediating between the human and spirit worlds. Structural shapes embody the power and strength represented by these sculptures. My muse is named Luba after one of the tribes”

Great job Miriam and Laone!

The Discarded to Divine Sneak Preview will be at the the de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, on April 9th. The Fashion Show & Auction will be at The Hall at St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1111 Gough Street, on April 29th.

For more info on the event visit www.discardedtodivine.org.