MassArt Vision 2015

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“Designers offer the message on what’s new, what’s trending.  MassArt fashion designers present a vision into the future with imagination and wisdom.” Sondra Grace, Head of the Fashion Department MassArt

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I had the honor of attending the annual MassArt Senior Fashion Show, which has been a tradition that dates back to 1907. This year when I thought it couldn’t be topped, the show absolutely blew me away. It’s a runway show that I’ve been lucky enough to attend for the past few years, and I’ve seen a total metamorphosis of the show.  Titled “Vision”–this year bore one of the largest classes of graduating seniors. Thirty-five aspiring designers showed their work on the runway, and 15 of them were selected to show their entire collections.

Of the 15, Joseph Carl’s collection had some of my favorite looks of the night. His gowns constructed pristinely, with color blocking and piping flowed down the runway like they were made to walk the Carousel in Paris. His gowns had structure and high turtleneck collars which were reminiscent of Hawthorne’s Hester Prynne.—but with a modern twist.

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Christian Restrepo finaled the show, closing with a strong multi-media textured collection. I got the chance to interview him and was impressed with his view on designing. It struck me that he was more interested in the design process itself and creating textures and movement more so than “being a designer”. I liked the rawness of his attitude and likened it to the same tenets that lead to the success of the fantastic duo Proenza Schouler. In an interview at the ICA with them, I learned they always focused on the creation process, developing their custom fabrics and playing with the notion of “refined ease” more so than “being designers.”

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The entire show was tight, produced perfectly down to the lighting, the music and the large screen video footage of the catwalk that graced the back walls. None of this could have been possible without the amazing help of the donors that provide scholarships to students in need. For the second year in a row, a Gala was organized by those who volunteer their time, and funds and believe in the continuation of an opportunity for an affordable education in the arts. As a guest of one of the co-chairs, Ashley Karger, I was grateful to be in attendance at this night that was truly a night of fashion perfection.

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This article appeared originally on StyleBoston.

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