NC State Is a Fashion School
Think about your favorite outfit: What do you love about it? The pattern woven into the fabric? The cut that’s on-trend but also comfortable? The way all the pieces pair together to feel uniquely you?
Now think about all the people who had a hand in creating it: textile engineers, designers, manufacturers, color chemists, artisans, marketers and more. Fashion is more than glamorous runway shows (though they are an exciting part of it) — it’s an interdisciplinary creative industry.
At NC State, our signature, long-running fashion events have historically united students from a wide range of disciplines around the creation of themed collections. Now, for the first time, the Wilson College of Textiles and the College of Design are uniting all of our fashion events into NC State Fashion Week, April 19-25.
Fashion. Wearable Art. Textile Design. Sustainability.
We take our work seriously at NC State, because we know it’s never just about the work — it’s about how the work affects and engages others. Whether that’s our coursework, our labwork, our professions or our passion projects, we Think and Do collaboratively, for the greater good.
Fashion is no exception. Many Fashion Week events are student-led and highly collaborative. Together, students explore the bounds of design and push each other creatively, while honing the skills and perspectives that will shape the future of the fashion industry.
To that end, you’ll find an emphasis on sustainability and inclusive design throughout the week’s events. Student designers often incorporate no-waste pattern-making techniques, found and thrifted materials, or designs that allow fashion and self-expression to be accessible to all body types and backgrounds.
Take a look at all that Fashion Week has to offer — clothing swaps, designer talks, showcases, recycling events and more. Then, join us as we celebrate the creativity, skill and collaboration that go into making everything from thought-provoking wearable art pieces to your favorite, softest hoodie. The results, if we may say so, are nothing short of dazzling.
Signature Fashion Week Events
Emerging Designers Textile Showcase and Runway Show
Take in the capstone collections of seniors in the Wilson College of Textiles’ fashion and textile design program and experience the creativity and technical mastery of these up-and-coming designers. The B.S. in fashion and textile design combines creativity and science, giving students an understanding of fiber and fabric performance to enhance their designs.
The Emerging Designers Textile Showcase concludes a semester-long project in which students explore, experiment and refine their ideas to create collections that span home textiles, apparel, fiber art and more. You have several opportunities to visit and view the collections, including a chance to walk through them with the designers.
On the fashion design side, students complete their final capstone project by designing a fashion collection and sending it down the runway.
This year’s Emerging Designers Runway Show highlights the transformation of concept into craftsmanship. Graduating designers explore form, function and identity through their collections. Expect to see everything from ready-to-wear to avant garde fashions. The work reflects both the students’ individual visions and their technical mastery shaped in the studios and labs of the Wilson College of Textiles.
African American Textile Society Fashion Exposé
NC State’s longest-running fashion show is hosted by the student-led African American Textile Society in the Wilson College of Textiles.
Student designers from any major and from other universities in the Triangle are invited to showcase their handmade creations in this annual runway-style competition. The theme of this year’s exposé is “Culture and Heritage.”
Art2Wear: Symbiosis
Art2Wear is an annual, student-led wearable art production of the College of Design. With an emphasis on storytelling, the student collections all center around a theme — this year it’s “Symbiosis”, focused on interactions that can range from mutually beneficial to more parasitic.
Students from a variety of majors work together on the planning and execution of Art2Wear, and the design of collections and accompanying digital media. The show blurs the boundaries of fashion and wearable art, and allows students to design pieces that connect with emotions, nature or the environment around them.
This year’s event takes place surrounded by art in the Gregg Museum of Art & Design.
Other Fashion Week Events
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April 21 | Open Studio for Art2Wear
See the students’ design processes in action.
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April 21 | Screening and Artist Talk
Join Wilson College of Textiles faculty member Kate Nartker for an artist talk and screening of her animated short film, Whose Woods Are These, which showcases her weavings.
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April 21 | How I Built a Fashion Career Using Social Media
Textiles alumna Kiana Bonollo, winner of a Distinguished Young Alumni Award, will give a talk about her career journey in fashion.
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April 22 | TEXcycle
Recycle your textiles — clothing, shoes and accessories that can’t be reworn or reused — at this Earth Day event.
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April 22 | Clothing Swap
The Greater Good Textile Group invites you to bring unwanted clothing in good condition to swap item-for-item, or purchase items for $1 each.
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April 23 | Century of Designers: From Worth to the World
A pop-up museum will highlight sophomore designers’ work, showing how historical influences are given a fresh, modern perspective.
There’s a lot to take in during Fashion Week, and attending an event is just the beginning. There are more ways to get involved, regardless of your major.
Events like the AATS Fashion Exposé and Art2Wear are open to students across campus. Students also help out behind the scenes throughout the week in event planning, modeling, backstage support, ushering and more.
However you get involved, you’ll catch a glimpse of student creativity and connect with our passionate campus fashion community.
As you’ll see, NC State is a fashion and textiles school and, whenever the Wolfpack comes together, we create something special.
This post was originally published in NC State News.
