Dominic Godina

Vanda Zhihan Ouyang

Melissa Lamore

BFA Fashion Designer Haemi Lee and BFA Textile Designer Claudia Ayleen Nicholas unite their beliefs for a collection named The Shape of God, aiming to represent the sublime nature of the Christian God. Taking visual inspiration from artist Susan Maddux, Haemi took pleated cotton and draped it over the human form, representing the infinite God – who transcends space, time, and reality. She chose to use cotton, framed as a common and affordable cloth, as the main fabric to represent the God’s humbleness, and used additional fabrics such as lame to also showcase His divine nature. All the fabric is hand painted by Ayleen, using Dye-Na-Flow Colors sponsored by Jacquard Products. Each piece was created as an abstract painting that is then folded into clothing. Haemi explained the overall feel of the collection less like clothing and more like walking pieces of art. Ayleen’s creative process is deeply personal. She doesn’t always begin with a clear plan or sketch. Instead, she lets her instincts guide her. This approach has grown even stronger through this collaborative project. “Working with Haemi has been such a blessing,” she says. “She’s patient, supportive, and also a Christian, so we understand each other on a deeper level. It feels like we’re creating something meaningful together.”

Hannah Yewon Kim

Hannah Yewon Kim

Hannah Yewon Kim

Patric Yikun Wang’s collection celebrates drag and the art of transformation, showcasing an impressive balance between glamour and elegance and the grotesque imagery. Corsets and padding are crafted with used materials. Through the use of stacking and teasing wigs and his knowledge of millinery, he creates giant, structured headwear pieces to work as companions to his garments. “I am inspired with building the body shape and padding using all these scraps and things around the queer community, like condoms, which are associated with AIDS, and pills.” Patric explained, “We can have so much information and messages just in the garment itself. Drag, on a larger scale, is what we do every single day when we put a garment on, when we step out the door, to talk to people, while playing a character.

Dongying Jiang

Dongying Jiang

Dongying Jiang

Biodegradable materials, recycled fibers, and 3D printing; not the typical elements you’d expect to see in a fashion show, but they came together perfectly for this oceanic collaborative collection, by Kendra Rae, BFA Fashion Design, and Gigi Youngbauer, BFA Textile Designer. One of the more impressive and innovative parts of this collection is Kendra’s use of a newly publicly available biodegradable filament, a first of its kind. The collection is inspired by seafoam and rock formations found on beaches. Featuring seven looks, with a variety of unique silhouettes and equally distinct handiwork, just like waves or incoming tides, each piece is different and offbeat in its compelling way. Exemplifying her proficiency in the breadth and depth of textile and yarnwork, the textile design collaborator Gigi Youngbauer’s fully handmade two-piece summer ensemble is a complex and detailed feat of her abilities. In designers’ collaborative looks, we will see custom-printed designs on modest silhouettes, interesting and original takes on traditional garments, and a distinctly noteworthy dress, highly reminiscent of seafoam, all in neutral shades and deep oceanic blues. A shared feeling during this process was an appreciation for the metaphorical meaning of the ocean in this collection. Both an inspiration artistically, and a representation of life ebbing and flowing, with their time in college coming to an end.

Yujing Wang

Devashree Nikunjbhai Jhaveri

Martharine Anne Olivia Jabo

A collection by Cailee Lola Grayhorse Pupecki, B.F.A. Fashion Design, is a love letter to the sport that shaped her. “That’s why I decided to make softball uniforms—just to show my gratitude for the sport and also my gratitude for the sisterhood that I’ve created,” said Pupecki. Originally from Southern California, Pupecki played softball for 15 years. Her designs reinterpret traditional baseball and softball uniforms through an unexpected lens. “I researched a lot of old baseball and softball uniforms and then created new uniforms,” said Pupecki. “When I say unconventional, it’s like I’m having people on the field play in suits or dresses, or skirts—things you really wouldn’t expect.”

Pupecki draws heavily from personal experience and visual symbolism. One of her standout illustrations features pigeons, that she connected with the university mascot, the Urban Knight. “When I first heard it, I thought a pigeon could be an Urban Knight in the city because there’s so many of them—like an army.”From that idea, Pupecki developed Pajane, a fictional pigeon character who appears throughout her collection.

She has titled many of her looks to reflect their character and silhouette. “The Bubble Look,” featuring oversized, rounded pants, is one of her favorites. There’s also “The Catcher Look,” a top that mimics a catcher’s gear, and “The Padded Suit,” inspired by the quilted padding of vintage baseball pants. As her collection evolves, Cailee continues to explore what happens when athletic wear becomes art. Each look in her lineup is stitched with story, memory, and a sense of transformation. “The softball taught me a lot,” she shared. And now, she’s returning the favor—uniform by uniform.

Born in Castro Valley, she was raised in a family that emphasized the significance of connection. Her final collection is inspired by Hong Kong film director Wong Kar-Wai’s Love Trilogy and the concept of “Kizuna,” which translates to “the bond that connects us.” She drew key inspiration from the films, as she felt deeply moved by the main characters and felt a parallel connection to their lives. “Through my collection, I hope to showcase the raw emotions that arise from connecting with others and building relationships as we grow,” explained Chen. To express her feelings through her garments, she primarily uses red and black colors to symbolize femininity and love, incorporating materials such as satin, velvet, jersey, silk dupioni, and repurposed plastic bags. The focus of her project is eco-consciousness and sustainability, which she effectively brought to life by transforming takeout and grocery bags. Chen pressed these bags together to create sheets with varying densities. Her garments symbolize confidence and self-assurance, showcasing skin and fostering a connection to others.

Emma Latham

Emma Latham

Emma Latham