The 70th DAAP fashion show was the hottest ticket in town

At the fashion show, more than 1,000 people were in attendance to view the collections of 48 fashion design graduates from the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP). Graduating students showcased their collections in an atmosphere just like runway shows that take place all over the world during fashion weeks: High-tech lighting and sound, a live DJ, and more than 30 models wearing 200 one-of-a-kind designs.

The DAAP fashion show is a culmination of a five-year program for design students; during which they also spend a year and a half working in the fashion industry through cooperative education. 

“These students are not only creative, but they are industrially smart,” Laurie Wilson, show director for the past 25 years, told Fox 19 in an interview prior to the show.  

The designs were based on the theme of “refine, repurpose” and ran the gamut of imagination from bespoke tweeds to bulbous synthetics. Within this Digital Program Book, you can learn details about each senior designer’s inspiration for their final capstone collection, view their look-book photos, and connect with them via their social media or website.

“Seeing all my hard work brought to fruition was extremely rewarding and gratifying, as well as being able to see all the hard work of my colleagues,” says Evan Forbes, whose runway designs were featured in a Spectrum News article. 

Several graduates such as Chutine Wei and Katherine Coleman found their way to DAAP’s Ullman School of Design through DAAPcamps, a summer camp program for high school students designed to let them explore all the disciplines at the college. Attending camp in 2016, Wei says, “turned into an amazing five-year journey where I found a loving and supportive community and grew into the designer I am today.”

Says Coleman: “It was a great introduction in that I was introduced to opportunities to creative outlets at a university level right in my city.”  

After graduation, students go on to work for major fashion houses, department stores with house brands or venture out on their own.

“I am so grateful for the past five years at DAAP that have prepared me for this next step in life,” says Anna Rose, who is relocating to Portland, Oregon, to work in men’s apparel design for Nike.

Featured image at top of design in Zara Staleva's collection called "Revival." Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand