San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) August 23, 2007
The top fashion design school at Academy of Art University will present the Spring collections for 2008 of recent graduates during Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week on Saturday, September 8th at 7:00 pm in ‘The Tent’ in Bryant Park, Sixth Avenue at 41st Street in New York City.
“Part of our commitment to the graduate designers is to help launch their careers and have their collections seen by as many industry people as possible,” said Dr. Elisa Stephens, President of Academy of Art University. “Debuting the collections during New York Fashion Week makes sense as the national and international fashion community is in town at that time.”
“The University has shown annually since September 2005,” added Stephens. “We will increase our graduate profile by showing twice a year beginning with February 2008 New York Fashion Week.”
Highlights from the upcoming runway fashion show:
Kyung Min Kim, MFA Textiles and Fashion Design
Kyung Min premiered her textile designs during New York Fashion Week in September 2006 when she collaborated on a collection with MFA Fashion Designer Mari Matsumoto.
This year, Kyung Min has designed her own collection of simple shapes, which act like canvases for her textile work inspired by fairy tales from her childhood.
Kyung Min is from Geoje Island, South Korea.
Kathryn Scully, MFA Knitwear Design
Kathryn has created a collection of beachwear with bikinis, cover-ups and sweaters based on her family vacations to the Atlantic Coast.
Kathryn is from Muster, Indiana.
MinSun Lee, MFA Knitwear and Fashion Design
MinSun’s collection is inspired by Russian Matryoshka dolls. Also referred to as nesting dolls, these wooden figurines nestle inside one another. Different styles have various names but the Matryoshka style was identifiable by its small dots.
MinSun is from Seoul, South Korea.
Andrea Vence, MFA Textile and Fashion Design
Andrea’s silhouettes are based on Japanese kites. Among the most spectacular in the world, a traditional kite consists of a bamboo or wooden frame with paper painted in bold motifs from legendary war heroes to geometric patterns.
Andrea’s textile designs were inspired by blown up images of basket and bamboo weaving.
Andrea is from San Carlos, California.
Kenneth Ning, BFA Menswear Design
Kenneth premiered his first menswear collection at the April ’07 San Francisco show where he received so much noteworthy attention that the School of Fashion decided to showcase his menswear in New York.
So that the collections would not be identical, Kenneth has produced additional looks for the New York show. Kenneth was inspired by the Champion Italian Soccer Team, Forza Azzurri.
Kenneth was born in China and raised in Oakland, CA.
Haa Cheng Thai, MFA Fashion Design
Kirigami, the Japanese art of paper folding and cutting, inspired Haa Cheng, shown through her shapes, folds, and laser-cut fabrics.
Haa Cheng is from Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, a suburb of the capital Kuala Lumpur.
Yi-Ting ‘Maxim’ Lee, MFA Knitwear Design
Maxim was inspired by JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, a manga written and illustrated by Hirohiko Araki. The Japanese comic is famous for its original art style, over-the-top violence, intricate plot and rock music references.
Maxim is from Taipei, Taiwan.
James Yoest, MFA Fashion Design
James has created a collection from conventional, reused and organic fabrics, including a parachute.
James is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Chia-yu ‘Sharon’ Yeh, MFA Textile Design
Sharon was inspired by the rhythm of San Francisco.
Sharon is from Taipei, Taiwan and lives in San Mateo, California.
Jiyoon ‘Lydia’ Yeom, MFA Knitwear Design
Jiyoon looked at our busy lives and felt we should search our souls and return to nature.
Jiyoon is from Dae-Gu, South Korea
Tara Shannahan, MFA Fashion Design
Tara has created a modern silhouette with the past in mind for her linen collection. She looked at the fracture and instability that the 1906 San Francisco earthquake caused and applied elements to the technical aspect of her designs.
Tara is from Belmont, California.
About the School of Fashion:
Established in 1929, Academy of Art University is the largest accredited private art and design school in the U.S. with nearly 10,000 students throughout San Francisco as well as nationally and internationally through the online degree program. Over 1,300 fashion students study under the guidance of experienced fashion industry professionals. The School of Fashion houses six areas of specialization: Fashion Design for Womenswear, Menswear, and Childrenswear; Textile Design; Knitwear Design; Fashion Journalism; Fashion Merchandising; Visual Merchandising.
Gladys Perint Palmer, Executive Director of Fashion, is a working journalist and fashion illustrator. In 1998, The Fashion Book (Phaidon Press) named GPP one of 500 people of influence in fashion since 1860. GPP’s book of drawings and irreverent captions, Fashion People, was published by Assouline in 2003. GPP’s work is included in the recently published 100 Years of Illustration by Cally Blackman and the exhibition accompanying the book launch in London. GPP is honored to contribute her work to Victoria & Albert Museum’s 150th Anniversary Album and the exhibition at the V&A in London, as only 150 artists have been asked to contribute. GPP is working on her second book, Fashion Bible.
Simon Ungless, Director of Graduate Fashion, graduated from Central St. Martins College of Art & Design in 1992 and was awarded the prestigious MA Degree in Fashion with Distinction. Ungless collaborated with Alexander McQueen on the first 10 collections shown in London and New York. 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 covers Fashion Design, Textile Design, Forecasting, Brand Development, and Marketing for such clients as Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, Paul Smith, and Versace.
Sharon Murphy, Director of Fashion Merchandising, has spent over 25 years in the apparel industry. Her career includes management positions in sourcing, manufacturing, product development and fashion retailing. She has worked for Esprit de Corp both on a domestic and international level as well as for Jessica McClintock, Inc. with a focus on the development of fabrics and apparel for contemporary, junior and children’s markets. Ms. Murphy joined the University as an instructor in 2001. She continues to consult with Venice Collaborative to source textiles and related materials for architects and builders of residential projects in Venice, California.
The University works with international brands and recruitment agencies on internships and job placement to help students obtain fashion careers. Graduates have gone onto companies such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Three As Four, Azzedine Alaïa, Banana Republic, Blanc de Chine, Burberry, Chloe, Liz Claiborne, Oscar de la Renta, Pamela Dennis, GAP Inc., Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, KITON, Calvin Klein, L.A.M.B., Ralph Lauren, Martin Margiela, Missoni, Alexander McQueen, Nice Collective, Nike, Nordstrom, Northface, Old Navy, Zac Posen, Pottery Barn, Reebok, Zandra Rhodes, Ralph Rucci, Jeremy Scott, Martine Sitbon, Carla Sozzani’s 10 Corso Como, St. John, Tocca, Williams Sonoma, Viktor & Rolf, Diane Von Fürstenberg, and Louis Vuitton to name a few.
Guests to the School of Fashion have included Azzedine Alaïa, Wilkes Bashford, Geoffrey Beene, Rose Marie Bravo, Loulou de la Falaise, Oscar de la Renta, James Galanos, Christophe Girard, Director of Fashion Strategy, LVMH Fashion Group, Robin Givhan of The Washington Post, Joan Kaner, formerly of Neiman Marcus, Antonio Lopez, Fern Mallis of IMG, Alexander McQueen, Suzy Menkes of The International Herald Tribune, Robert L. Mettler, Chairman & CEO of Macy’s West, Rosita and Tai Missoni, Isaac Mizrahi, Josie Natori, Zac Posen, Zandra Rhodes CBE, Ralph Rucci, Jeremy Scott, Carla Sozzani, Koos van den Akker, and Dame Vivienne Westwood DBE.
Academy of Art University is a member of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), ACICS, NASAD, Council for Interior Design School Accreditation (BFA-IAD), and NAAB (M-ARCH).
Academy of Art University School of Fashion, 180 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
www.academyart.edu / 1.800.544.ARTS (2787)
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