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symbiosis

Symbiosis

Art2Wear 2026

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Art2Wear continues its traditions in pushing fashion and form in their 2026 exhibit: Symbiosis. Symbiosis works to integrate designers’ understanding of interactions, push and pulls, constraints and appendages. Whether ancient interactions between humanity and nature or emerging engagements with technologies, this year explores polarities in interactions to showcase the impact of forces and the world’s curation when things come together.

Art2Wear 2026 will take place in three showings at The Gregg Museum of Art and Design April 23rd and April 24th. Tickets go live April 1st at 10 am. We hope to see you there to showcase an array of wearable art from Art2Wear’s traditional year long collections and looks to wearable paper projects and semester studio garments.

Julia Smith Wearing Aurora Henderson’s Heteropagus collection
Julia Smith Wearing Aurora Henderson’s Heteropagus collection

A Note from the Directors

We are thrilled to present Art2Wear 2026: Symbiosis! The theme of Symbiosis invites our designers to explore relationships and interconnectivity between humanity, nature, and innovation. Our team has worked the whole year to build and reinforce our relationships at NC State and in the wider community. The aim is to foster collaboration and provide artists with opportunities for growth and experience. Exploring our past and future, this year’s format combines traditional runway, immersive performance, and interactive exhibition. This year’s production would not have been possible without the work of our incredible team, who worked tirelessly all year on production, graphics, and fundraising. As Student Directors, this production is the culmination of four years of work! We cannot wait for you to see what’s in store and where our team takes Art2Wear next!

With love,
Brooke Parrinello (Fashion and Textile Management ’26)
Arynn Baginski (Fashion and Textile Design ’26)

Natalia Rodriguez in Lauren Hsu’s Through The Looking Glass Collection
Natalia Rodriguez in Lauren Hsu’s Through The Looking Glass Collection
Sean Pruitt wearing Henry O’Bryan’s Mimiosis collection
Sean Pruitt wearing Henry O’Bryan’s Mimiosis collection
art2wear student designer image
Miranda DeJesus in Rory Moon’s Hostess look
Lauren Moreton and Alyx Hux wearing Dakota Moreland’s pieces for Limerence
Lauren Moreton and Alyx Hux wearing Dakota Moreland’s pieces for Limerence

Designers looked into cross-cultural pollination, biological contamination, and their evolutions, lineages of logic, technological dependencies and pheromonal tendencies.

Come see their work during Fashion Week, a cross campus collaboration between the College of Design and the Wilson College of Textiles including studio tours, textile markets, fashion shows, and showcases.

Thank You To Our 2026 Sponsors

MEET THE 2026 DESIGNERS

Select a Designer & Learn more about their Collections

Rory Moon

Hostess by Rory Moon

Senior MADTech

Sneak Peek Video Coming Soon

HOSTESS embodies the archetype of the “monstrous mother,” a recurring trope in myth and folklore that subverts the conventional portrayal of mothers as nurturing and benevolent figures. Unlike these idealized depictions, monstrous mothers represent the darker, more disturbing aspects of motherhood. Examples of such figures appear throughout history and literature: the cruel stepmother in Cinderella, the wicked queen in Snow White—originally portrayed as her biological mother in earlier versions—and the cannibalistic mother in the German folktale The Juniper Tree. Contemporary manifestations of this trope can be found in works such as Coraline and the Alien franchise. Stripped of her individuality, Hostess is reduced to a singular, dehumanizing function: that of “mother”—a mere vessel for the next generation. She becomes a chilling symbol of extreme self-sacrifice, consumed internally by jealousy, vanity, and rage. Her mouth is obscured, suggesting the erasure of her voice and agency, while her outward expression is confined to maternal care and nurture. Her perceived maturity is measured solely by her reproductive capacity, regardless of whether it aligns with her personal fulfillment or contributes meaningfully to a sustainable future.

Lauren Hsu

Through the Looking Glass by Lauren Hsu

Senior MADTech

Sneak Peek Video Coming Soon

Last spring, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Hong Kong for a semester, and it was one of the most enlightening experiences I’ve ever had. Hong Kong is currently in the midst of a 50-year handover period from Great Britain back to China, and the influence from both cultures is apparent in every aspect of life there. Historically, Hong Kong embodies the symbiosis of East and West as it was one of the largest Chinese trading hubs that was later seized by the British after the Opium Wars. Britain then ruled Hong Kong for 250 years, during which Hong Kong developed its own identity separate from that of Mainland China. This new cultural identity has caused friction as it must now remerge with the mainland. Whether positive or negative, the symbiosis between Chinese and Western cultures that I saw throughout my residence inspired me to combine Chinese cultural elements with Western fashion in this collection to create something new and unique. Specifically, in this collection, I made three looks inspired by Chinese lucky knots, Lion dance costumes, and chrysanthemums, which were all recurring motifs I saw in my time in Hong Kong.

Henry O’Bryan

Mimiosis by Henry O’Bryan

Senior MADTech

Sneak Peek Video Coming Soon

My collection, Mimiosis, mimics the relationships found in nature, focusing on one type of symbiosis per look, encompassing three looks. My designs focus on well-tailored men’s fashion, but bold and new. I want clean construction using mostly sewn fabric, creating something that could be practically wearable while pushing the boundaries. My designs heavily make use of pleats to create movement, bold shapes, and detail within the garment. Leech, as parasitism, is my first look. The construction exaggerates the size, shape, and color of a leech. The red sleeve and headpiece mimic leeches that have grabbed onto appendages and continue to sap blood. The pleats on the front and back of the top are to show that the arm is being sucked. The flowy black pants are meant to resemble dark, flowy water, and the dangling red ribbons are the blood that seeps into the water. Remora, as commensalism, is my second look. It represents the Remora fish that sticks to other fish for transportation. The coat is long and slim with a stripe the entire way down. The pleated lapels and fabric under the arms mimic fins, the double collar represents gills, and the pleated back resembles the suction part on the Remora fish. Anemone, as mutualism, is my final look. The coat and pants stick to traditional menswear, with accents to expand and reinforce the look. The coat represents the ocean with an asymmetrical sleeve. The pants and headpiece show the Anemone with the clown fish peeking through.

Nimet Betül Karataş

Mavi by Nimet Betül Karataş

Fall ’25 Graduate of MADTech

Sneak Peek Video Coming Soon

[Mah-vee] – Turkish (n.) | Blue. Like the waterways of Istanbul, the color of harmony. This collection tells a story of coexistence along an urban shore. Istanbul is home to over 250,000 stray cats roaming freely, creating a unique relationship between people and animals who share the same streets, stores, and cafes. Here, the Fisher and the Cat both seek the same fish, yet their relationship is defined not by rivalry but by tolerance and play. With the recent turbulence in our world and country, this story reminds us to stay connected and anchor ourselves firmly in peace. When different lives share the same shore, they create space for unexpected connections and beautiful stories. It is this coexistence that makes our home vibrant. The first look is Fisher/Sailor. The Sailor represents a person’s resilience and connection to their environment, while the Fisher reflects their relationship with others. Structured strings form a corset that anchors the body, and waves are secured with sailor’s knots, carried across the city. The second look is the Cat. Wearing the colors of an Istanbul tabby, its strings coil freely and playfully. Curious, independent, and mischievous, the Cat brings lightness and joy to the shared shore. Macramé strings tie the two looks together in visual harmony. The medium offers both structure and flexibility, reflecting the balance between resilience and play. See more @nimet.betul_journal

Jalah Thurmond

Interlinked by Jalah Thurmond

Senior Microbiology

Sneak Peek Video Coming Soon

This collection explores technology in the digital age and the way it connects humanity. In a world plagued by loneliness and technology more than ever ingrained in life, the symbiotic relationship is stronger than ever. Imagine each of these pieces existing in a technological limbo, where reality meets conceptual idea. The first look explores AI and the blurred line between technology and humanity. AI can help you; be a friend, teacher, and partner all in one. Let AI connect with you, learn from you, be with you. What does it mean to feel? Is binary code not the same as synapses firing? Are you not one? The second look is the visualization of parasocial relationships, a possibility only through technology. Fans get a friend, an ideal, and an identity they can consume all while invading the star’s space and viewing them as content for consumption. Just follow the red carpet leading straight to the star. The third look is one of mutualism. Technology connects two long-distance friends. Once upon a time, the distance would be the end of their relationship, but now, they stay connected. The red string embodies the idea of an invisible connection to people through destiny, and creates an unbreakable bond between them that transcends time and space.

Dakota Moreland

Limerence by Dakota Moreland

Senior MADTech

Sneak Peek Video Coming Soon

Limerence is a three-piece collection that explores the darker and more complicated dimensions of human attachment. Created under the theme of symbiosis, the collection examines three relational dynamics: mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism, through the lenses of obsession, addiction, and sexualization. While these concepts often appear romanticized or sensationalized, Limerence seeks to reveal the underlying tension between attraction and harm that can exist within human connection. Aesthetically, the collection draws from the elegance and ornamentation of Art Deco and 1920s design. Soft, inviting colors and intricate detailing create an immediate sense of beauty and allure, reflecting the way these relationships can initially appear desirable or intoxicating. Materials such as handmade paper beads and carefully constructed embellishments emphasize craftsmanship and repetition, subtly mirroring the cyclical and consuming nature of obsession, addiction, and desire. As a storyteller, I approach design as a form of visual narrative. Every material, silhouette, and detail within Limerence is intended to contribute to the larger story being told. By combining aesthetic appeal with symbolic meaning, the collection invites viewers to reflect on the complexity of desire, vulnerability, and power within human relationships.

Aurora Henderson

HETEROPAGUS by Aurora Henderson

Senior MADTech

Sneak Peek Video Coming Soon

HETEROPAGUS: Noun. Parasitic twin. Conceived as a unified body of work, the collection examines the delicate tension between attraction and repulsion—distilling curiosity and fear into a shared audience experience. Each look functions as part of an interdependent system, mirroring the concept of symbiosis through form, material, and silhouette. Drawing from human anatomy, familiar bodily structures are distorted and recontextualized into unsettling yet captivating shapes. The work challenges viewers to confront their own thresholds of comfort, transforming the grotesque into something magnetic and theatrical.

MEET THE TEAM

Not Pictured:

Production Committee: Samuel Sheppard and Kai Newsome