Story and Photography by Frances Deese
As storm clouds broke over Raleigh on Saturday, April 25, thunderous creative visions came to life at the Emerging Designers Runway Show, the final event of Fashion Week at NC State University. The event celebrates the hard work of student designers in the Fashion and Textile Design program at the Wilson College of Textiles. The showcase is a reminder of the courage it takes to boldly assert artistic talents and the originality fashion can hold. With actionable tips from this runway show, new styling ideas can come easily and bring fresh energy to dressing each day.
Whimsical Elegance: There is a misconception that a mature wardrobe requires only predictable pieces. Whimsical elegance invites imagination in inspiration—think of movie costumes such as those in An American in Paris and Funny Face. Designer Lainey Volz embraces this in Oh the Places You’ll Go!, including bold colors and playful prints using a majority of fabrics created from her original art. Miss Independent by Lupe Martinez-Hilario adapts and alters women’s office-wear, showcasing what it means when we give ourselves permission to stand out. Rather than challenging our restraint, this trend understands the joy and necessity of the unusual.
Avant-Garde Additions: Requiring spinning styles in a dramatic direction, avant-garde wear spotlights flair. In Clara Jelenevsky’s illuminare Penumbra we see how the everyday can ignite an artistic spark, with the fluidity and light of lamps capturing new forms. Julia Handley’s Unspoken conveys the “quiet language of emotion” that influences clothing choices, asking us to see the blank canvas we have when getting ready.
The Delight is in the Details: Detailing—that unconscious interest the eye is drawn to—is what can subtly set a look apart. Whether featuring beading or fabric embellishments, it lends itself to endless adaptability. Emma McDaniels’ Abloom reimagines the unique nature of flower petals to emphasize individualism and self-expression for bridal wear. Detailing becomes personal empowerment where the design of Vestige by Ethan Sadler “considers the young creative as both maker and dissenter,” and craft is utilized as an outlet in an ever-changing world. Aleena Thomas’ Whatever is Lovely uses techniques that mimic the “dynamic nature of water,” where authenticity and transformation are always in vogue.
Eye-catching Contrast: Challenging what we know, this contrast captures fashion’s unpredictable lightning. Grid Girls by Sarah Major juxtaposes the feminine-leaning colors of purple and black against styling motifs from the male-dominated world of automotives and motorsports. Liv Glasgow’s Dress Code takes classic tailoring and office wear staples but combines them with unstructured silhouettes and unexpected fabric choices. Using the lens of reality, these collections provide innovation and compelling pairings.
Storied Histories and Archival Cues: In a frenzied world, what have we lost in our rush and what can be gained with intentional slowness? Both Lucy DeWolf’s Behind the Name and Zeke Davis’ Misinherited trace the cultural elements of “passing down.” Whether names, knowledge, apparel, or community ties, these elements leave greater effects than contrived identities. Hope Scarlett Faircloth’s Golgotha examines the idea of the “paradox of agony rendered graceful” across centuries of Christian art depictions and humanistic themes we still grapple with today. Aaryn Baginski’s Polyxena draws on the ancient Greek myth of maenads as a muse, channeling and honoring female identity with silhouettes that bring new life to classic ensembles.
