Design brings high-end fashion to campus

Model showcases a piece of the senior collection at the 2017 Fashion Fete.
Model showcases a piece of the senior collection at the 2017 Fashion Fete.

The Department of Design hosted one of its most fashionable events of the year, Fashion Fete, on March 18. Students showcased their creations – including the first menswear collection – at the show.

The annual event, held in Bondurant Auditorium, featured garments in a variety of categories, including active sportswear, resort wear, career wear, semi-formal wear, formal wear and menswear.

Every item submitted had to meet the standards of the jury to be included in the show. One of the jurors, Ashley Rosenbaum ’15, has had her work featured in British Vogue.

The first senior collection displayed at the event belonged to Brittany Moore, whose inspiration for her line came from her internship in New York last summer.

“My line is called ‘On the Town.’ I was constantly inspired by the diversity – from both the fashion and the people. I had professional, fashionable and fun women in mind when I created the line,” she said.

Model showcases a piece of the senior collection at the 2017 Fashion Fete.
Model showcases a piece of the senior collection at the 2017 Fashion Fete.

The designer of the first-ever menswear collection at Radford University, Kijani Grinage, took home multiple awards for his line “Disheveled in Distress.”

“My collection has a lot of denim. It was inspired by menswear designers. It’s upcycled and new denim mixed with old. It also has leather mixed in,” Grinage said.

Allison Martin, one of the recipients of the Shark Tank Competition award last fall, drew inspiration for her line, “The Working Woman,” from Garrett’s & Meg’s, a local business in Radford.

“I realized that women want comfortable clothes that fit well and make them look good, while being a little bit different,” she said.

Sheri Smith, the second Shark Tank Competition award winner, also presented her senior line at Fashion Fete. Smith had her inspiration come from her internship in Bowling Green, Ohio, where farmland dominated the landscape.

She branched into bridal – a major portion of her clientele in the mid-west. “Hometown Girl” is the result of her experiences.

Student models a piece of the menswear line at the 2017 Fashion Fete.

Student models a piece of the senior line at the 2017 Fashion Fete.

Megan Short’s “Juxtaposed” line fulfilled her goal of “making sure that it was for a woman who wanted to exceed expectations.” The senior line blended old styles with a touch of the future.

“I wanted to make sure that it was the thing that a woman would want to show off around. It’s colorful and crazy – but so am I,” Short said.

Senior Kijani Grinage celebrates after winning multiple awards.
Senior Kijani Grinage celebrates after winning multiple awards.

Award winners at the 2017 Fashion Fete

At the end of the show, award winners were announced for each category:

  • Active sportswear: Shacoya Trotter
  • Menswear: Kijani Grinage
  • Resort wear: Brittany Moore
  • Career wear: Sian Brown
  • Semi-formal: Kijani Grinage
  • Formal wear: Megan Short
  • Design of the year: Sian Brown
  • Denior collection award: Kijani Grinage
  • Senior designer of the year: Kijani Grinage

Professor honored following the show

The five design seniors honored retiring Professor Kathy Mitchell following the show.

“Without you, we don’t know what we would’ve done. We are so blessed to have you with us. You have been one of the best parts of this program and have made every day better. We are better designers and better people because of you,” Short said about Mitchell’s impact on her and the program.

Moore echoed the same sentiment by saying, “Without you, none of this would be possible.”

Smith shared Mitchell’s impact on her choice to attend Radford by saying, “I owe it all to you. You’re one of the reasons I came to Radford.” 

Seniors honor retiring Professor Kathy Mitchell.

Seniors honor retiring Professor Kathy Mitchell. Left to right: Professor Kathy Mitchell, Brittany Moore, Megan Short, Kijani Grinage, Shari Smith and Allison Martin.

Mar 23, 2017
Max Esterhuizen
(540) 831-7749
westerhuizen@radford.edu