RISD Presents COLLECTION 2017 at New York Fashion Week

Select Apparel Design Graduates Make Their NYC Debut

RISD’s Second Annual NYFW Show to be Hosted by Robert Geller, Sally LaPointe, Rachel Mansur, Nicole Miller, Mike Eckhaus + Zoe Latta, Sponsored by Tommy Hilfiger

NEW YORK – Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) will stage its second annual New York Fashion Week show, COLLECTION 2017, on Wednesday, September 13 at 7:30 pm at Skylight Clarkson Square (550 Washington Street) in New York City.

Sponsored by Tommy Hilfiger and hosted by Robert Geller [RISD ’01], Sally LaPointe [RISD ’06], Rachel Mansur [RISD ’06], Nicole Miller [RISD ’73], Mike Eckhaus [RISD ’10] and Zoe Latta [RISD ’10], the runway show and cocktail reception will feature the work of 13 outstanding Apparel Design graduates from the class of 2017:

Lauren Perea
Rachel Yoo
Atalanta Shi
Redat Davison
Kylie Mara
Noah Pica
Maya Samach
Coleen Chan
Abigail Griswold
Taylor Goldenberg
Lucille Crelli
Jamall Osterholm
Teagan Lindsay

Attendees will get a first-hand look at the portfolio pieces that earned these graduates some amazing post-grad opportunities: Abigail Griswold (a former competitive gymnast) will begin working at Reebok in Boston in October, designing for the Women’s Crossfit apparel team, and she’s also participating in the annual Supima Design Competition during Fashion Week; Kylie Mara has been working as an assistant designer at Club Monaco since graduation; Noah Pica is in residency at Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, VT through September, where he will expand #1DAD, his thesis collection, by focusing on textiles, installation, and video work. He has a second residency lined up later in the fall at Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts in Nebraska City, NE; and Jamall Osterholm has had many of his garments featured in the press, worn by celebrities and fashion influencers.

“We are excited that RISD returns to fashion week for the second year to celebrate our students’ exceptional work and to share it with industry leaders. Our new graduates will have a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate their unique and fresh points of view 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, Robert Geller, Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta, Sally LaPointe and Rachel Mansur, whose generous support and endorsement helps to bring the work of future fashion leaders to the public.”

“This year’s graduating cohort proved that there is a powerful movement of designers emerging from American schools,” noted outgoing Apparel Department Head Neil Gilks. “The RISD standard is not only one of creative relevance and desirability, it can also question many of the social and political injustices that are globally apparent, offering distinctive artistic voices with ability to incite discussion and activate change. I am extremely proud to have worked alongside them this year.”

“My time at RISD had a huge impact on me – it taught me the value of pursuing what you believe in and putting in the hard work to achieve successes,” said LaPointe. “I think learning these critical foundations from the beginning are key, and something that I feel fortunate to have had.”

RISD Apparel Design seniors debuted their one-of-a-kind thesis collections at COLLECTION 2017 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 Sara Kozlowski, fashion design strategist for CFDA; Lisa Z. Morgan, British artist, designer and writer (and incoming Apparel Department Head for 17/18); Dean Sidaway, educator and artist; and Kate Wallace, design director of Women’s Knits, Sweaters and Cold Weather Accessories, Club Monaco.

About RISD's Apparel Design Department
Championing innovation and originality, Apparel Design at RISD is home to strong, inquiring creatives. Students develop their own voices and directions through immersion in a thorough investigation of their craft. Professors work to help students develop insightful, artistic minds and become confident, creative decision makers able to navigate the future and their own careers. Placing high value on the importance of creative individuality, Apparel Design professors assign a broad range of studio projects intended to help students develop their own systems of practice. The connections fostered with visiting professionals—who are leaders in design thinking—underscore Apparel Design’s mission to provide a fertile space for robust discovery. 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 – 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 here.