Within higher education LIM College is unique among the NYC schools in that it held an end of year fashion show this week, but it is not known as a design school. Founded in 1939 and located in midtown Manhattan, offering master’s, bachelor’s and associate degree programs, the school prides itself on providing experience-based learning opportunities beyond design. Its curriculum deals with the business side of fashion and lifestyle, preparing graduates for roles in buying and merchandising, product development, marketing, logistics, media, event planning. To this end the runway show was fully planned and executed by students working with expert advisors from the industry.
As a reviewer, this involves reframing the idea of a graduate fashion show. While the runway looks were cohesive and eye-catching, the creativity on display by the students was mostly of the unseen variety. Indeed the more their work went unnoticed, the more successful the event. Invites were received and communication was prompt, event location was perfect, check-in and seating was effortless, and the run of the fashion show went without a hitch.
This year’s show was an elevated event held at NYC’s The Glasshouse around the theme “Embracing the Elements,” with an enhanced focus on diversity and inclusivity. Student models were joined on the runway by cancer patients who had been helped by the Verma Foundation, an organization that provides free wig caps to those dealing with cancer-related hair loss, co-founded by Natasha Verma, a cancer survivor and Fox5NY News Anchor who served as honorary chair for the event.
LIM graduates put on a runway show with a different point of view
Meredith Finnin, Director of Communications at LIM told FashionUnited, “The show consisted of 8 separate scenes and one of those scenes featured designs created by 11 LIM students in our Fashion Design Club, an extracurricular student organization where members discuss the fashion industry, new designs, and trend forecasting, and learn how to create items. Senior members learn design and sewing and techniques and tutor fellow members in the creation of projects.”
The students began by putting together vision boards for the show last fall, based on the theme, “Embracing the Elements” in order to select the ideal designers for the collaboration. “They put together a wish list of designers based on which designer’s aesthetic aligned with each scene,” said Finnin. “Outreach to those designers was done through a combination of social media, emailing their PR teams, or asking LIM alumni and partners to connect us. Several designers came in thanks to introductions from LIM industry partners who had worked with those designers.”
Independent New York designers selected by the LIM students to present collections on the runway included Melesia Robinson, Adrienne Landau, Carlton Jones, Pedro Juan Atelier, Eppersonn, and Terry Singh. This selection highlighted designers of color who create fashion for all gender representations, sizes and ages.