Seniors Bedazzle Crowd at 114th Fashion Show
Pratt senior fashion students presented clothes ranging from a casual, melon-colored coat to fantastical, voluminous ball gowns at the Institute’s 114th annual fashion show on April 25.
The sold-out venue, Center 548, included an audience of students, parents, fashion press, and insiders. They were also on hand to see Vogue International Editor at Large Hamish Bowles present the 2013 Pratt Fashion Visionary Award to renowned American fashion designer Thom Browne, whose namesake brand creates impeccably tailored menswear and womenswear.
Before the show started, Browne accepted the award in one of his trademark gray suits with cropped pants—donned by many other guests lining the runway, including Pratt President Thomas F. Schutte.
"Always stay true to yourself,” Browne told the crowd, “Most people will either like it or they won't. But let this inspire you and believe that you are doing something right because if somebody doesn't like it, I think you are doing something right."
The show provides 17 graduating students with a platform to design, produce, and present cohesive collections that were pre-selected by a panel of industry experts (mostly designers and fashion magazine editors). Representing a myriad of designs, techniques, and perspectives, collections ranged from five to 11 looks.
New York Magazine's The Cut called out “Emma Hastil, who fearlessly clashed vibrant colors and bold prints; Macy Smith, who sent down whimsical creations made of pastel colors, lime-green fur, and eyeballs; and Madeline Gruen, who closed the night with gorgeous blue and white eveningwear worthy of a young Alexander McQueen." Other media coverage came from the Wall Street Journal, Women’s Wear Daily, New York Times, and other local and national press.
At the conclusion of the show, Gruen was recognized with the Liz Claiborne Award—Concept to Product, which will support her creative, entrepreneurial activities and help cover the costs of developing a collection post-graduation.
Madeline Gruen (B.F.A. Fashion ’13) was the winner of the “Liz Claiborne Award—Concept to Product” and the Pratt Fashion Entrepreneurship Award. Photo: Jesse Lirola
Gruen also received the Pratt Fashion Entrepreneurship Award, a new recognition that will provide her with a studio in Pratt's Design Incubator for Sustainable Innovation rent-free for one year with ongoing mentorship at the Incubator. As part of this award, Gruen will be able to attend classes, tuition-free, that are part of Pratt’s recently launched Design Entrepreneurship program.
Funding for the 2013 Pratt Fashion Show was awarded in part through a competitive grant presented to Pratt Institute by the Importer Support Program of the Cotton Board and Cotton Incorporated.
Text: Ruth Samuelson and Amy Aronoff
Photos: Jesse Lirola
Video and Production: Peter Tannenbaum
Gateway Editors
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