For the first time in three years, SCAD’s fashion senior designs made their way down the runway this Friday. I entered the purple-lit SCAD Museum of Art courtyard to find it transformed into a runway, with photographers capturing the attendees upon arrival and ushers seating guests in the quite limited three rows of white cushioned cube seats. President Paula Wallace (wearing custom Christopher John Rogers, of course) and I spoke briefly about the excitement surrounding the show. It was clear that everyone in attendance was over the moon to finally be back in person after such a long time showcasing designs online.
The show started with Fashion Run, a film that showcased a look from each of the senior collections as models pranced through the Historic District of Savannah. The film felt like a homecoming of sorts; after the past two years of showcasing garments online, the designs are finally back in person. The film set up the show perfectly, as there is nothing quite like the feeling of watching garments move as models walk down a runway in person.
There’s no way to summarize such a wide range of collections presented at the show. The common denominator was a feeling in the atmosphere rather than what I was seeing in front of me; the passion was abundant in the courtyard. Professors were cheering, peers were celebrating and music was booming. This group of seniors all had different stories to share through experimentation in silhouette and fabrication.
A clear standout was the show’s opener, Hailey Kavanagh, with her knit-tulle gowns turning heads and dropping jaws throughout the entire audience. Menswear designer, George Huff, created graffiti-inspired puffers that were recently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, while Rodolfo Planells showed a softer side of menswear, showing off a sensual edge to masculine energy. Stella DeLaughter’s technicolor collection was a clear audience favorite and Sofia Carmela Arante created larger-than-life vivid knit pieces that were inspired by a childlike fantasy. Recipient of a sponsorship from Swarovski, Emily Knoetter, stunned the crowd with an architectural corset, and Beckham Lin created pleated masterpieces in an ode to his namesake.
SCAD’s return to the in-person fashion show for the Class of 2022 was a hit. To feel a sense of community-based around fashion after such a long time of digital learning felt like a sigh of relief. I left the show feeling so inspired, not just by the clothing but by the energy shared amongst the crew, models, designers, and attendees. After three years, it still baffles me; that in a small city on the coast of Georgia, there is such a large community of people connected by a passion for creating, inspiring, and making really good fashion.
Words by Nicholson Baird.
Photos by Joe Tankersley.