Amid the prevailing uncertainty, SCAD’s Class of 2026 strides confidently into the future. These students are not simply idealists; many channel their creative processes to navigate personal trauma, ensuring that grief does not define them. As articulated by Dean of Fashion Dirk Standen, “They are clear eyed but also optimistic about the future. What I get from these students is that fashion matters now more than ever.”
The student showcase, held outdoors at the SCAD museum beneath a vibrant, cloud-like textile installation by Janet Echelman, commenced with a performance by Lil Buck and Jeremiah Ellis, highlighting over 60 graduating seniors’ work.
Menswear, driven by growing interest and innovation in the fashion industry, emerged as a highlight of the SCAD show. Jimmy Kim skillfully utilized gray flannel, while Jack Wilkins crafted post-Ivy garments with distressed, aged, and patched materials. Nicholas Oyakhire’s all-black collection explored grief stages with pieces like a cutaway tailcoat. Meanwhile, Owen Gibson reimagined classic bombers and pea coats with fresh proportions. Shaely Stabler introduced a men’s evening collection inspired by womenswear techniques.
Standen noted “a return to dressing up” as a common theme throughout the collections. This was evident in the runway’s finale, featuring six evening dresses designed by students mentored by SCAD’s designer in residence, Peter Copping of Lanvin. These students were tasked with interpreting the house codes, resulting in pieces like Lanvin’s panniered robe de style, a silhouette with recent resurgence, echoing its 1920s reinterpretation of an 18th-century style.
Romance was a central theme in other collections. Jinseo Park presented pastel creations available at SCAD’s newly opened Bazaar store. Gabriella Simone Fox showcased raw-edged chiffon dresses, while Zoya Polivchak envisioned a unicorn in her Wonderland collection. In a more somber take, Jamie Domrude incorporated Swarovski crystals into her Titanic-inspired lineup, while Jane Jurchak, already admired by fka Twigs, presented garments with a dark Southern Gothic edge.
Students also experimented with materiality. Mohan Yang used handmade materials from China, and Luca Bellini drew inspiration from architecture for his sculptural designs. Lily Arnold showcased detailed snow-white knits, contrasting with Ruby Yao’s blood-red skeleton knit, fitting the “Costume Art” theme. Many graduates emphasized eco-consciousness by using upcycled materials. Notables include Brynn Sullivan, who incorporated thousands of stickers into one outfit, and Tabitha Wagner, who created whimsical woodland creatures with bindle sticks and fairy wings from discarded plastic bags.
The most athletic designs were presented by Andrea Ibarra, a passionate snowboarder. She adopted an interdisciplinary strategy, collaborating with a sound engineer to convert audio from the slopes into graph-inspired prints.
