Art2Wear 2026: Symbiosis Highlights the Collaborative Spirit of NC State Fashion Week

June 12, 2026 Max Cohen 4-min. read

Three models pose outside wearing pieces from Aurora Henderson's collection, titled Heteropagus.

For two nights in April, the Gregg Museum of Art & Design became a stage for experimentation, storytelling and interdisciplinary collaboration as Art2Wear 2026: Symbiosis took center stage during the university’s inaugural NC State Fashion Week.

Organized by the College of Design’s Department of Media Arts, Design and Technology, known as MADTech, Art2Wear challenged audiences to think about the relationships that shape our world between humans and nature, tradition and innovation, and physical and digital experiences. The theme, Symbiosis, encouraged designers to explore interdependence, coexistence and transformation through wearable art.

This year’s production expanded beyond a traditional runway show. Set throughout the galleries of the Gregg Museum of Art and Design, the event combined runway presentation, immersive performance and exhibition elements, inviting visitors to engage with the concepts and narratives behind each collection.

Impact Beyond the Museum

Student Henry O'Bryan working on stitching his collection titled Mimiosis in the Art2Wear studio. — *Henry O’Bryan working on his collection ‘Mimiosis’ during open studio.*

As one of the signature events of NC State’s first Fashion Week, the production became part of a larger celebration of fashion, textiles and wearable art across campus. Organized through a collaboration between the College of Design and the Wilson College of Textiles, Fashion Week brought together students, faculty, alumni and industry professionals for a series of exhibitions, runway shows, studio tours and conversations exploring the future of fashion.

The week highlighted a reality that many outside the university may not realize: NC State has become a hub for fashion innovation. While the Wilson College of Textiles has long been recognized for its leadership in textile science, engineering and technology, Art2Wear demonstrates how fashion and design also thrive through creative exploration, storytelling and artistic expression.

Together, the events showcased the breadth of fashion-related work happening across the university from advanced textile research and sustainable materials to conceptual wearable art and experimental garment design.

Within that broader context, Art2Wear offered a distinctly immersive perspective on fashion’s potential as a medium for storytelling.

The Designers of Symbiosis

Model walking during the Art2Wear show. — Rory Moon’s *Hostess* explored the “monstrous mother” archetype through dramatic silhouettes and symbolic design choices, examining themes of motherhood, identity and self-sacrifice.

Two models walk past each other during Art2Wear 2026. — Inspired by her experience studying abroad in Hong Kong, Lauren Hsu’s *Through the Looking Glass* reflected on the city’s unique cultural identity and the intersection of Eastern and Western influences through garments inspired by Chinese lucky knots, lion dance costumes and chrysanthemums.

Model stops to pose on the runway during Art2Wear 2026 — Nimet Betül Karataş’s Mavi celebrated coexistence through a story inspired by Istanbul’s relationship with its stray cat population, emphasizing harmony, community and shared space.

A model stops to pose at Art2Wear 2026. — A senior studying microbiology, Jalah Thurmond examined technology’s increasingly complex role in human relationships through *Interlinked*. The collection explored artificial intelligence, parasocial connections and long-distance friendships, asking audiences to consider how digital tools both shape and sustain modern forms of connection.

Two models walk side-by-side during the Art2Wear 2026 show. — Dakota Moreland’s collection, *Limerence*, investigated the darker dimensions of human attachment through themes of obsession, addiction and desire. Influenced by Art Deco aesthetics and 1920s design, Limerence paired ornate craftsmanship with visual storytelling to explore the delicate balance between attraction and harm.

Two models stop to pose with one another during the Art2Wear 2026 show. — Inspired by the concept of a parasitic twin, Aurora Henderson’s collection, *HETEROPAGUS*, explored the uneasy relationship between attraction and repulsion. Distorted anatomical forms and theatrical silhouettes challenged viewers to find beauty within the unfamiliar, transforming discomfort into fascination.

Collectively, the collections explored themes of cultural exchange, ecological relationships, technological dependence and human connection. Each offered a unique interpretation of what it means for individuals, communities and systems to exist alongside one another.

A Symbiotic Legacy

One of Art2Wear’s defining characteristics is that it is produced almost entirely by students. Designers, producers, graphic designers, models and production teams spend months collaborating to bring the experience to life. The result is both a showcase of wearable art and a hands-on learning opportunity that mirrors the collaborative nature of professional creative industries.

As visitors moved through the museum galleries, they encountered more than garments. They encountered stories about culture, ecology, technology and humanity, as well as stories that reflected the central idea of symbiosis: that seemingly different forces can influence, challenge and transform one another.

In the context of NC State’s inaugural Fashion Week, Art2Wear 2026 demonstrated not only the creative ambition of its student designers but also the power of collaboration across disciplines. Together, the week’s events revealed a broader picture of fashion at NC State where art, design, technology and textiles intersect to create new possibilities for the future.