RISD Presents COLLECTION 2016 at New York Fashion Week

Select Apparel Design Graduates Make Their NYC Debut 

RISD’s First NYFW Show to Be Presented by Tommy Hilfiger, Hosted by Robert Geller and Nicole Miller

New York, NY – Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) will stage its first ever New York Fashion Week show, COLLECTION 2016, on Wednesday, September 14 from 6–8 pm at Skylight Clarkson Square (550 Washington Street) in New York City. 

Sponsored by Tommy Hilfiger and hosted by Robert Geller [RISD ’01] and Nicole Miller [RISD ’73], the runway show and cocktail reception will feature the work of 10 outstanding Apparel Design graduates from the class of 2016: 
Adam Blake 
Jacob Blau 
Annice Chen 
Taylor Greenberg-Goldy 
Kay Young Jeong 
Christopher Mena 
Fred Mezidor
Allison Morgan
Allison Wang 
Arnold Wong

Attendees will get a first-hand look at the portfolio pieces that earned these graduates some amazing post-grad opportunities: Annice Chen will be working at Levi’s in San Francisco starting this fall; Jacob Blau is participating in the annual Supima Design Competition during Fashion Week; and Taylor Greenberg-Goldy is a research fellow at the Harvard Biodesign Lab. 

“This is an exciting opportunity for RISD to celebrate our students’ exceptional work and share it with industry leaders, connecting our new alums to the professional world they are now a part of,” said RISD President Rosanne Somerson. “We are grateful to Tommy Hilfiger for his ongoing support and to our talented alumni hosts, Nicole Miller and Robert Geller, for helping to bring this event to life.” 

“The New York Fashion Week show is a thrilling capstone for our seniors’ work and for my first year as department head,” added Associate Professor of Apparel Design Neil Gilks, formerly of the CFDA. “It has been a pleasure to work closely with this group of creatives –witnessing their development in design and craft whilst shaping their unique voices.” 

“As both a Trustee of RISD and an alumna of the RISD Apparel Design department, I am doubly delighted that we are able to showcase the work of RISD graduates at New York Fashion Week,” noted Nicole Miller. “I show my collections at New York Fashion Week and know the power that this global stage has for a designer's career. I am eager to see the excellent work of our recent RISD alumni on the runway.” 

RISD Apparel Design seniors debuted their one-of-a-kind thesis collections at COLLECTION 2016 in Providence in May. The work was juried by a panel of guest critics – leading industry professionals who provided critical feedback over the course of the school year and ultimately determined which garments made it into the runway show. The rigorous selection process is an important part of students’ preparation to enter the competitive fashion industry. This year’s jury included fashion and concept designer Mariana Vidal Escabi; Diane von Furstenberg designer Henry Zankov; educator and artist Dean Sidaway; Francesco Fucci, head of design at The Row; and Alex Brownless, co-founder and SVP of Arts Thread. The selection committee for the New York Fashion Week presentation includes textile and concept designer Daniel Reynolds; designer Kate Wallace; Vogue Japan’s Tomomi McMaster; and music video director and image maker Daniel Brereton.

About RISD's Apparel Design Department 
RISD’s Apparel Design department prepares students to meet the demanding requirements of the fashion industry. Built on the philosophy that design and technical skills are mutually enhancing, the program is structured to take students through all aspects of apparel design and construction, from functional to experimental clothing. Technical classes proceed from basic to advanced drafting, draping and construction and incorporate the use of computers as a tool for design and product visualization. RISD has offered programs in Costume, Clothing and Fashion since 1918 and established the Apparel Design department in 1952. Many graduates of the department – such as Nicole Miller [RISD ’73], Sari Gueron [RISD ’97], Sally Lapointe [RISD ’06], Robert Geller [RISD ’01], Nicole Romano [RISD ’00], Tess Giberson [RISD ’96], Tae Ashida [RISD ’87] and Marcia Patmos [RISD ’91] – have started independent labels, while others – such as Vanessa Pang [RISD ’95], senior design director for Michael Kors Men’s Collections and Thea Jacinto [RISD ’10], knits designer at Polo Ralph Lauren– have found success at leading design houses.

About Rhode Island School of Design
Known as the leading college of art and design in the United States, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is ranked #1 in Business Insider’s survey of The World’s 25 Best Design Schools. Approximately 2,450 students from around the world are enrolled in full-time bachelor’s or master’s degree programs in a choice of 19 majors. Students value RISD’s accomplished faculty of artists and designers, the breadth of its specialized facilities and its hands-on approach to studio-based learning. Required courses in the liberal arts enrich the studio experience, equipping graduates to make meaningful contributions to their communities. Through their creative thinking and problem solving in a broad range of fields, RISD’s 26,000 alumni exemplify the vital role artists and designers play in fueling global innovation. Founded in 1877, RISD (pronounced “RIZ-dee”) and the RISD Museum help make Providence, RI among the most culturally active and creative cities in the region. For more information, visit risd.edu and our.risd.edu.

NOTE: Hi-res photos of the work that will be shown at NYFW are available. Credit: Matt Francis Photography