This September fashion had eight new reasons to celebrate when Albright College returned to the runways of NYFW with its “8 Collections” Fashion Show. For the second straight year, Albright College, a Liberal Arts-based fashion design, merchandising and costume design program based on a historic campus in Reading, PA, sent collections from six recent graduates and two current students down the celebrated runways of NYFW.
Found in the eight collections was a wide range of inspirations ranging from the opening collection “Déjà Vu” by Smithtown, NY designer Jennifer Raineri, which was inspired by menswear styles during the Regency Period of history. The bow details at the necklines and button front detailing of many of the designer’s looks truly married the inspiration with the looks that walked the runway. Camille Fuller presented a collection of naturally dyed ensembles under the title “Earth’s Confections,” which proved that vibrant, contemporary fashion can indeed be environmentally friendly. Philadelphia, PA’s Na’Yalaijah Fournillier, took a slightly different take on the message of environmentalism with her collection of upcycled denim silhouettes that pushed forward her theme of “renewal.”
The keystone collection of the evening was presented by returning designer Liz Polley, who showed a collection inspired by the various places visited on her travels during the numerous relocations her career has required. Now hailing from King of Prussia, PA, Polley is not only returning to the runway for a second year, having debuted at Albright’s first showing in September of 2021, but she has just recently returned to her alma mater as a professor in the Costume Design Department.
Centreville, VA native Nicholas Kedge presented his take on gender fluidity with “Pollan,” his collection of edgy pieces that evoked feelings of 1980s runway looks while feeling wholly updated and now. Baltimore, MD was well represented by designer Olivia Connor, who showed her elegant dressy sportswear collection named “Bittersweet” which, according to the designer “was a beautiful representation of the beauty that can emerge from the pain of loss.”
York, PA native, Jonathan Otero, presented a dressy sportswear/evening wear collection entitled “A Force of Color,” which truly celebrated the vibrancy of color with every stitch.
The show concluded with powerful, dramatic fashion when Ligonier, PA native costume design major, Sarah Kim, presented her “Haunted Garden” collection of Goth-inspired eveningwear that walked to a truly ghostly version of Roy Orbison’s “Crying” in Spanish (“Llirando”) by Rebekkah Del Rio from the David Lynch’s “Mulholland Drive.”
In the audience was influencer and author Caroline Vazzana, herself a graduate of the Albright College fashion program. Vazzana said, “I’m so excited I could come out tonight and support my alma mater, Albright College, on their latest New York Fashion Week show! I always love supporting emerging designers and am so happy to be here for these eight designers. The collections were so beautiful, and you could just feel the energy and excitement from everyone in the crowd as the models made their way down the runway. Congratulations to Albright College and to all of the incredibly talented designers. I can’t wait to see what each does next.”
Also in the audience was noted actor/musician Sloan Morgan (D4M $loan), the West Philadelphia native known for his hit singles “Don’t Diss Me,” featuring his late rap partner D4M Skiano, and “Wolf-N-Demon” featuring Kur, as well as his acting role of “Darnell” on the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” reboot “Bel-Air.”
