FASHIONWEEK Spring 2008: Academy of Art University Graduates Show. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG

Tara Shannahan, MFA Fashion Design

A San Francisco fractured and shattered by the 1906 earthquake compared to today...an era of fading influence contrasted with a modern polished façade inspired Shannahan's all-white showing of draped dresses and flowy pants ensembles in linen with "coated plaster" details.

Jiyoon ‘Lydia’ Yeom, MFA Knitwear Design

 

Because we are intertwined with nature but fail to take some time from our busy lives to soul search and honor nature, Dae-Gu, South Korea native Jiyoon made Nature's Spirit the theme of this collection of handkerchief skirts, jacquard dresses, asymmetric off-shoulder dresses, and pale floral prints.

Haa Cheng Thai, MFA Fashion Design

Kirigami, the Japanese art of paper folding and cutting, is evident in the shapes, folds, and laser-cut satins, subtle prints and pleated dresses & skirts of designer Haa Cheng, who hails from Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, a suburb of the capital Kuala Lumpur.

James Yoest, MFA Fashion Design collaborating with Sharon Chia-yu Yeh, MFA Textile Design

      

Imagining a woman on a journey, fashion designer Yoest collaborated with textile designer Chia-yu Yeh - who found her designs inspired by the rhythm of San Francisco - on a collection featuring sustainable organic, conventional and reused fabrics (such as parachute) and natural dyes on fleece, wool jersey, silk georgette & cashmere. For the exclusive Fashiontribes video interview with James & Sharon, CLICK HERE.

Kenneth Ning, BFA Menswear Design

 

Ning found himself inspired by the modern soccer thug attracted to fame, specifically the Champion Italian Soccer Team, Forza Azzurri, and used patent leather from a soccer ball and shiny fabrics to repel a rowdy lifestyle, along with white- & navy-coated linen, leather, and sharkskin & and a variety of fun hues including bright ultramarine, vibrant yellow, fuschia, red. He was born in China and raised in Oakland, CA.

Andrea Vence, MFA Textile and Fashion Design

Based on the structure and silhouettes of Japanese bamboo basketry, boat construction and Japanese kites - the latter constructed with bamboo or wooden frames & covered in paper emblazoned with geometric patterns, legendary war heroes & other bold motifs - for this capsule collection, Cali born & raised Vence created textile design of blown-up images of basket & bamboo weaving.

Kathryn Scully, MFA Knitwear Design

Family vacations to Cape May provided the creative impulse for this Indiana native's collection of  bikinis, cover-ups, sweaters & cashmere shorts in hues of tan, white, pink, gold, green & blue.

Yi-Ting ‘Maxim’ Lee, MFA Knitwear Design

There's nothing like over-the-top violence, intricate plot and rock music references to give rise to a fashion collection. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, a manga written and illustrated by Japan's Hirohiko Araki, helped Taipei's Maxim devise this knitwear colleciton of patchwork, multi-colored mohair, mesh knits, and vibrant hued dresses, tops and tunics layered over striped, patterned and metallic leggings.

MinSun Lee, MFA Knitwear and Fashion Design

       

What does a modern Matryoshka doll wear? A scooter helmet, of course. Based on the traditional Russian wooden figurines that nest one inside the other, designer MinSun of Seoul, South Korea interpreted this tradition for living dolls with polka dot knitwear sweater dresses, cardigans, skirts, bolero, turtlenecks, pleated skirts, and hooded jackets.

Kyung Min Kim, MFA Textiles and Fashion Design

Her second showing at New York Fashionweek, textile designer Kyung Min previously showed a Spring 2007 collection in collaboration with MFA Fashion Designer Mari Matsumoto (CLICK HERE for the Fashiontribes review). For her solo effort, she was inspired by the fairy tales of her childhood in Geoje Island, South Korea, which translated into prints involving horses strolling in front of a castle, princesses in fields at night, princesses on horses, lovers under the stars, and horses and carriages.

For more on the Academy of Art University School of Fashion, visit AcademyArt.edu.

- Lesley Scott

Related Stories: Academy of Art University Spring 2007 review.

(photos: MBUSA.com & CatWalkPictures.com)

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