SAIC’s annual fashion shows are some of the biggest and most attended fashion events in Chicago. Coming back to Millennium Park for the second time on April 19, 2012, the fashion show featured more than 300 original garments created by undergraduate students in the internationally renowned Fashion Design program.
Since 1866, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago has been educating artists, designers, and scholars with a philosophy built upon an interdisciplinary approach to art and design. The school’s Fashion program provides a creative and intellectual context in which the nature and potential of fashion is closely examined and re-imagined.
SAIC’s Fashion program is housed in the 25,000 sqft studio located in the heart of Chicago. The space includes the Fashion Resource Center, a hands-on collection of late 20th and 21st century designer garments and accessories representing extreme innovation, which allows SAIC students the opportunity to explore the most progressive achievements in the world of dress and fashion.
For the 78th year in a row the school showcases the collections of its students in a stunning runway production. Fashion 2012 is SAIC’s signature full day fashion celebration which was held at the Millennium Park for the second consecutive year and featured more then 300 original student designed garments during three fashion presentations.
“SAIC’s full day of year-end fashion events is great for our students and the vibrancy of our city. As a flagship event on Chicago’s cultural calendar, this show provides our talented fashion design students a platform to share their innovative work and gives a sophisticated, creative audience a glimpse of the future of fashion and the next generation of designers. I am delighted that we were able to welcome more than 2,400 guests to our shows last year and eager to welcome them back to Millennium Park once again, along with new friends.”
— Walter Massey, SAIC President
Each runway shows showcased 38 avant-garde designs in muslin made by its sophomore students, followed by 33 three look collections designed by its juniors and finishing with elaborate and diverse creations of more than 40 seniors, the largest graduating class in SAIC Fashion Design history. Each senior collection featured five complete garments.
Fashion 2012, a professionally produced show, with more than 70 models walking down a 90-foot runway inside a 15,000 sqft tent. The day was concluded with a final evening showcase during The Walk 2012, the annual benefit gala supporting the production of student work and scholarships.
Media crew:
Video Reporter – Raven Mai
Event Video – Matt Mantyla, CrowdAround Media
Event Photography – Julian Favela
