GWEN SHIHYAO LAI – Her stunning spring 2014 collection was inspired by the paintings of Filipino artist, Thaddeus Ochoa Pagaduan and featured cotton, silk, and ikat fabrics which featured pleating reminiscent of the artist’s use of tree bark and bleaching which represents the sunlight and fire from nature.
SHANSHAN BAI & WINBO SHIAU – A beautiful collaboration from these Fashion and Knitwear Designers. While Shanshan was inspired by the natural curling lines of floral panels, Winbo added a dynamic twist of street-chic style. The collection features a blend of silk gazar, wool and linen yarn.
NIKA TANG – showcasing a stunning collection that were inspired by the stone carvings of realism artist Kris Kuksi, architectural designs of Mario Botta and the sculptures of Korean artist Byoungho Kim, this collection focuses on volume, movement and texture. The garments take on a half dome and large ruffled silhouette of a sunfish with the macrame details reflecting the textures of caviar eggs.
VICKEN DERDERIAN – The first thing that caught my eye when Vicken’s first look hit the runway was fabrication – his voluminous and structured collection were featured in bold prints reminiscent of stunning jacquard and upholstery. No surprise that he has a background in Furniture Fabrication Design, Architectural Design and Fine Artistry. His collection explores the connection between fashion and architecture.
DIDVIK KUANG – Imagine if Richard Gere’s American Gigolo character wore loungewear for the entire movie, Didvik Kuang’s collection is what his attire might look like. The collection’s fabrications include linen, blended wool, nylon and suede.
MARINE RONGRONG WEI – Inspired by the vintage clothing during the Great Depression, Marine combines different fabrics and textures to create her collection. Her collection also features varied fabrics weights and oversized silhouettes popular during that era.
LESLIE DILLOWAY – With inspiration coming from ethnic Turkish prints and textures infused with the 1990’s popular grunge fashion, Leslie Dilloway created a collection for a fictional Turkish cab driver in London in the late 80’s to early 90’s who she deemed mysterious and carefree. The collection features a casual, sporty theme thanks to the continuous use of drawstrings.
RYAN MORAR & MELISSA AVALOS – The second collaboration, Menswear Designer Ryan and Textile Designer Melissa create a standout casual collection. Ryan and Melissa’s collection is inspired by Robert Rauschenberg’s “Combines” mixed media artwork in both design element and textile. Ryan also counts the sounds of 1980’s Sonic Youth and Beat Happenings albums as inspiration. His garments feature deconstructed elements that create new shapes and raw, free form aesthetic.
Academy of Art continues to give us designers that offer a fresh and modern look at fashion. This season’s show has been one of my favorites from the school. Check out the looks in motion in the models finale walk below:
