Design Notebook: Nine School of Fashion Students Showcased at Macy’s Passport 2006

In September, Macy’s Passport 2006 Gala Fashion Show premiered in San Francisco before opening in Los Angeles. Special guests included Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Sharon Stone, Priscilla Presley, Brooke Shields, Jimmy Smits, John O’Hurley who is most recently recognized from his well-publicized stint on Dancing with the Stars, Italian pop opera star Vittorio, Sean John designer Sean Combs, and Heatherette designers Richie Rich and Traver Rains.

Nine School of Fashion students and one Fine Art Sculpture student saw their collections featured on the runway with fashion labels such as Hugo Boss, Sean John, Heatherette, American Rag, Greendog, MAC Viva Glam and more.

For the past 24 years, Macy's Passport has increased social awareness of HIV/AIDS related issues, and raised nearly $22 million to benefit HIV/AIDS research, care, prevention and education programs. Passport 2006 supported the continued commitment to vital vaccine research, as well as community-based prevention, education, care and advocacy programming. These programs reach thousands of men, women, teens and children who are living with or at risk of contracting HIV, ensuring they live their lives with dignity.

Following the Heatherette segment which ended with designers Richie Rich and Traver Rains taking their runway bow on roller skates, the Academy of Art University segment began.
BFA Fine Art Sculpture student Crystal Powell showed her hummingbird sculpture jewelry on a dress by MFA Fashion designer Channing Bui. Their combined outfit was shown alongside two looks from Patty Chan, MFA Fashion Merchandising. One look showcased Patty’s jewelry with a dress by MFA Fashion designer Andrea Vence and the other with a dress by MFA Textile and Fashion designer Kyung Min Kim.

Four collections that premiered earlier in September at New York Fashion Week were showcased as well. Not only is Academy of Art University the first and only school to premier graduate collections during New York Fashion Week but is honored to be included in Macy’s Passport 2006.

Handsome models strutted down the runway in MFA Fashion designer Masamichi Matsushita’s collaborative menswear collection with BFA Textile designer Susan Fort. Their futuristic collection incorporated organic cotton donated by Specialty Fabrics and O-Wool by Jasco organic wool donated by Vermont Organic Fiber Company [www.vtorganicfiber.com].
MFA Fashion designer Shanti Rose Markstrom’s collection was inspired by Commedia del’arte and Victorian circus performers as well as French artists Jean-Antoine Watteau and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

MFA Fashion and Knitwear designer Pablo Fernandez created an avant-garde menswear collection inspired by the early-80s, vintage cartoons and WWI paraphernalia. Pablo was a 2004 CFDA Scholarship Award recipient. In May 2006, Pablo was awarded an internship at Louis Vuitton in Paris for 2007 after Christophe Girard, Deputy Mayor of Paris Responsible for Culture and Director of Fashion Strategy of the LVMH Fashion Group, met Pablo and viewed his portfolio.
MFA Fashion designer Avani Pratap Bhansali’s passion for ancient civilization and dynasties led to her inspiration from the intricacies of Persian art. She researched archival metal work, pottery and textiles and incorporated the texture into her designs. She also took architectural elements and was inspired by the loose silhouettes worn at that time.