Photo Caption: Allison Galvan, right, received the Distinguished Designer Award for Retail at the 2026 Driehaus Fashion Awards. Photo Courtesy of Dominican University.
A pair of recent Dominican University graduates are already making their mark on Chicago’s fashion scene.
Original, show-stopping designs from Emma Mendell of Herscher and Allison Galvan of Round Lake Beach earned top honors on May 21 at the prestigious 2026 Driehaus Fashion Awards, held at Hotel 55 in downtown Chicago.
Mendell took home two major accolades, winning the event’s Top Designer and Best Construction awards. Galvan received the Distinguished Design Award for Retail, which includes a personalized mentorship experience with Neiman Marcus.
Both students also received monetary prizes for their award-winning work, further recognizing their talent, creativity, and promise as emerging designers.
Original article published by Daily Herald. Read the original article here.
