In a dazzling display of innovation, culture, and raw expression, the Academy of Art University’s School of Fashion hosted its highly anticipated 2025 Spring Fashion Show, themed “Origins of Belief.” The event not only showcased the creative power of its graduating designers but also marked a historic milestone, as Gap Inc. became the first company to receive an Honorary Doctorate from the university, recognizing its legacy of mentorship, creativity, and impact on the San Francisco fashion scene.
A Tribute to Identity, Culture, and Transformation
Seventeen visionary designers took to the runway, each collection a bold testament to personal narratives, cultural heritage, sustainability, and experimentation. Highlights included:
- Patric Yikun Wang (M.F.A. Costume Design): A tribute to drag and queer identity, using repurposed materials like sofa foam and condoms to tell stories of resilience, performance, and pride.
- Yujing Wang (M.F.A. Fashion Design): Merged traditional Chinese techniques with modern silhouettes, creating contemporary qipaos inspired by dragons, shadow play, and her name’s meaning, “Jade Well.”
- Kendra Rae (B.F.A. Fashion Design) & Gigi Youngbauer (B.F.A. Textile Design): A collaborative collection inspired by seafoam and tides, featuring 3D printing with biodegradable filament, handwoven ensembles, and oceanic textures that balanced tech and tradition.
- Hannah Kim (B.F.A. Fashion Design): Bridged her Korean roots and 1960s–70s San Francisco counterculture in a joyful mashup of bokjumeoni-inspired details and psychedelic silhouettes.
- Chase Duval-Champagne (M.F.A. Fashion Design): Delivered a deeply emotional and conceptual collection on neurodivergence and anxiety, blending unconventional materials with a literary, McQueen-Esque aesthetic.
- Mel Lamore (M.F.A. Fashion Design): Wove themes of depression and healing through fragile, raw garments with a quiet elegance—each piece as much a catharsis as couture.
- Devashree Jhaveri (B.F.A. Fashion Design): Fused traditional Indian textiles with expressive emotion, letting ancient fabrics and rope elements dance to the beat of spiritual and maternal love.
- Martharine Anne Olivia Jabo (M.F.A. Fashion Design): Her collection “Urithi” (Swahili for Heritage) reimagined African couture for a global audience, featuring handwoven fabrics, gold leaf detailing, and powerful silhouettes.
- Emma Latham (B.F.A. Fashion Design): Brought the majesty of Alaskan glaciers to the runway using repurposed tents, survival gear, and custom prints, turning environmental wonder into wearable art.
- Cailee Lola Grayhorse Pupecki (B.F.A. Fashion Design): Celebrated her softball roots through fashion, reinterpreting athletic uniforms with whimsical, narrative-driven silhouettes featuring her pigeon mascot, Pajane.
- Dominic Godina (B.F.A. Knitwear Design): Captured the nurturing spirit of nature in his knitwear collection, combining fantasy elements, hand-crochet techniques, and fractal repetition to honor water and growth.
- Dongying Jiang (B.F.A. Fashion Design): Created a poignant collection exploring vulnerability and survival in the face of verbal abuse, using sheer layers and traditional Chinese motifs.
- Vanda Ouyang (B.F.A. Fashion Design): Let nostalgia and imagination collide in “The Smell of Stars,” blending sequins, lace, and burned fabrics inspired by “The Little Prince.”
- Kira Chen (B.F.A. Fashion Design): Turned takeout bags into love letters, using repurposed plastic to explore bonds of family and femininity rooted in Hong Kong cinema.
- Claudia Ayleen Nicholas (B.F.A. Textile Design): Paired hand-painted fabrics and spiritual themes in collaboration with Haemi Lee (B.F.A. Fashion Design) to explore sustainable fashion inspired by faith and emotional connection.
From intimate explorations of mental health to sweeping cultural statements, the collections shared a common thread: the belief that fashion serves as a vessel for deeper truths. At every turn, viewers were invited to consider what it means to be seen, to speak without words, and to wear one’s story.
The 2025 Spring Fashion Show wasn’t just an academic milestone; it was a living, breathing exhibition of where fashion is heading: toward honesty, complexity, collaboration, and care. As each designer took their final bow, it was clear that the future of fashion isn’t merely in good hands; it’s in brilliant, brave ones.
Whether you’re inspired to study fashion in person or pursue a fashion design degree online, Academy of Art University offers flexible and accredited programs that mirror the same level of creativity and industry connection seen on the Spring Fashion Show runway. From fashion design bachelor’s degrees to MFA and certificate programs, students gain the skills and experience needed to launch careers in a global fashion landscape.
To watch the full show, view photos and designer features, visit
https://fashionschooldaily.com/graduation-fashion-show-25/
