Heartfelt words from our fearless leader, @traceytdibuono from @zzazzproductions. Richard H. Driehaus entrusted her to take the reins of his beloved organization. We know he would be proud. ...

Our gratitude goes, first & foremost, to our benefactor Richard H. Driehaus, and also to our partners who bring our show to life:
-Executive Producer @zzazzproductions @traceytdibuono
-Event Partner @curioexperience
-PR & Event Producer @molisepr
-Emcee @sylviapereztv
-Video @mirarmediagroup
-Music @djakib
-Technical @blackoak.tech
-Event Design @kehoedesigns @austinjamescreative
-Hair & Makeup: @zazusalons
-Media: @candidcandace
-Venue: @21chotelchicago
-Models: @selectmodelchicago @10mgmt ...

Designer: Parker Smith, @parkernormal from @saicfashiondesign, our first place winner.

-Collection Inspo: I tend to think in contrasts. In the context of my academic end, I wanted to move toward the beginning. What lies at the very start? What is most sacred, most foundational? When I strip everything back, what is behind the foliage obscuring the light?

This collection treats the woods as a divine force, exploring
silhouettes that feel monolithic
and severe. I reference garments
from cultures the western world
views as primitive, but I find wiser.

Appreciating shapes found in a
range from traditional Buddhist
dress to aboriginal ceremony. The primitivism and purity of the
woods echoes through the stark
rectangles, triangles, and circles of silk and flax, with moments of fuzz and bloom. Pillars of form create shamanistic entities and ominous figures. Moments of color and shine become pulse points between stark contrasts of lightest lights and darkest darks.

Woodsong is my grand genesis.

@mirarmediagroup
@zzazzproductions
@molisepr
@curioexperience ...

Designer: Julia Sim @juliamonineath from @saicfashiondesign, our second place winner.

-Collection Inspo: Bounded Hellhounds–A manifestation of my internal struggles, being pushed into unfamiliar territories while being bound by my own hesitations. The fear of the unknown, of failure, of not being enough yet being confined and restricted, all through FEAR. It serves as a reflection and an experiment of how far I’ll let my fears control me.

Exploring the interplay between restriction and transformation while sitting in the comfort of the familiar and the uncertainty. Silhouettes being pulled away from the body, yet allowing the buckles on the garments to mimic the terror to hold on tightly in moments where I feel paralyzed and frightened. The intertwined suede and denim symbolize the fragility of my vulnerability while being chained up in rigid states of mind. The bold colors inspired by the paintings “The Scream” and “Anxiety” by Edvard Munch were woven into the collection, reflecting my internal turmoil.

Welcome and beware of my hellhounds.

@mirarmediagroup
@zzazzproductions
@molisepr
@curioexperience ...