Advanced Textiles and Elegant Designs Will Captivate the Runway at Drexel’s Annual Fashion Show

Studio 54, Rocky Horror Picture Show, 19th century circuses, and botanicals in urban environments are the inspiration for a handful of student designers whose collections will be featured in Fashion ’18, Drexel University's annual fashion show, presented on Saturday, June 2 by the Fashion Design and Design & Merchandising programs in the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design.

This year’s show will take place at the Urban Outfitters Corporate Headquarters at the Philadelphia Navy Yard (5000 South Broad St.), Building 543. The first show will be held at 4 p.m., with a ticket price of $30 in advance and $40 at the door. The second show will be held at 8 p.m. and followed by a wine and cheese reception, with a ticket price of $60 in advance and $70 at the door. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here. For more information, call 215.895.2390 or visit fashionshow.westphal.drexel.edu.

Each year, Drexel’s Design & Merchandising seniors work behind the scenes to produce, direct and execute the fashion show. Putting their years of education and practice to the test, students help coordinate public relations and marketing, the selection of models and garments and facilitate ticket sales.

Fashion ’18 is a collaboration across multiple majors within the Westphal College. Music Industry students work with the designers to carefully arrange the music selection for each collection and Graphic Design students assist with the visuals. Some Drexel students also model in the show alongside professionals from W Talent, Vie, and Reinhard Modeling Agencies.

Fashion ‘18 includes senior and graduate collections in womenswear and menswear, as well as designs in children’s, tailoring, lingerie, evening, swimwear and experimental categories. The show will be one of Drexel’s largest — with 34 senior and graduate designers debuting their collections on June 2 after months of cultivating their ideas and inspirations into reality.

Eligible student collections have the opportunity to be honored in categories, including “best in show,” “most creative and saleable” and “excellence in illustration.” This year’s panel of judges will include representatives from Neiman Marcus, Gentle Monster, Nicole Miller, Frank Agostino and Joan Shepp. 

This year, Fashion ’18 welcomes Cameron Silver, fashion director of the H by Halston and H Halston brands, as the 2018 Drexel Fashion Show Honored Guest. Silver visited Westphal College this past November to speak with students about his unique perspective and career in the fashion industry and critique students’ collections. Westphal invites the celebrated designer, author and Bravo TV star back as the first honored guest in Drexel Fashion Show history.  

This year’s featured designers include:

Kate Haley was driven to create a one of a kind bridal collection for the vintage bride. “The ‘Ophelia’ bridal collection pulls its inspiration from the romanticism of the 1930s Midwest and the Great Dust Bowl, combining obscure features of vintage design from the era and highlighting the simple and rustic style reflected in elements such as handmade cotton lace applique and the use of other natural fibers,” says Haley. 

Kristina Moneyhun took her influence from the high times of the ’70s glam era, creating a one-of-a-kind retro collection. “Studio 54 was an iconic place where the most sensational and unique people were free to be themselves,” says Moneyhun. “This disco haven epitomized style and fun during the late 1970s. My collection uses flashy and glamorous fabrics with fur and fringe accents highlighting quirky acrylic accessories.” 

Niki Korman decided to base her collection off of the eccentric film, Rocky Horror Picture Show. “Using edgy biker elements combined with the lingerie-inspired sex appeal, I have designed a collection that is an ode to Dr. Frank-n-furter,” says Korman. “I focused heavily on the interplay between concept and materials; the girly lace and embroidery contrasting the sexually charged words; the harsh leather and buckles in opposition with the airy cutouts.”

Alli Best took the topic of mental health and addressed it head-on.

“The ReTHINK Collection serves to make a social commentary on mental abnormalities and the stigma that surrounds them,” says Best. “Taking inspiration from straitjackets, each garment communicates the sense of constraint, symbolized by hand-crafted leather belts and silhouettes that visually limit mobility. Softer organza and sheer chiffons illustrate a journey in overcoming the limits defined by those constraints.”

Jailyn Poindexter used nature and the changing of life to interpret her collection. “In order to find one’s truest self, turning within is the first step of many that leads toward transformation,” says Poindexter. “Much like the forming of a chrysalis, change and growth only occur when we turn within and tear down the walls. This collection, Metanoia, is inspired by the metamorphosis of the butterfly and how it relates to personal growth.”