EVENTS

2013 Graduation Fashion Show at the Academy of Art University

What: 2013 Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony

When: May 9

Where: Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco

The scene: The Academy of Art University’s 2013 graduation fashion show and awards ceremony included a portfolio review, cocktail reception and fashion show that took place under the cavernous rooftop of the Palace of Fine Arts.

The event honored Max and Lubov Azria of Los Angeles, who were awarded honorary doctorates by Elisa Stephens, president of the Academy of Art University.

Max Azria is the founder, designer and chief executive of BCBGMaxAzria Group. Lubov, his wife, is the company’s chief creative officer.

Awards and internships were presented by the Azrias, H.R.H. Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, Craig Olman of Abercrombie & Fitch and Neil Gilks of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

The fashion show and awards ceremony followed two days of events, including a luncheon at the Cannery; a tour of the university; and “Bon Chic Bon Chat,” a conversation with Gladys Perint Palmer, executive director of the university’s school of fashion, the Azrias, and Suzy Menkes, fashion editor of the International Herald Tribune.

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Max Azria, Elisa Stephens and Lubov Azria

Notable attendees included Christina Neault, executive director of IMG Fashion; Daniel Reynolds, a textile designer at Diane von Furstenberg; and Victoria Di Giacinto and Greg Myler of St. John.

The fashion show included graduating students’ work created under the guidance of Simon Ungless, the academy’s director of the School of Fashion. Collections ranged from womenswear and menswear to specialties including knitwear, textile design, and jewelry and metals arts.

The show opened with a stunning group of eveningwear titled the “Saudi Project,” commissioned by H.R.H. Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud for Harvey Nichols in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The collection—a fashion, textile and technical design collaboration—was created by students after they took a week-long cultural tour of Saudi Arabia.

Other collections were artsy, yet modern and wearable, incorporating a variety of colors, fabrics and silhouettes.

Inspiration ranged from vintage clothing from the Great Depression to the early work of designer Claude Montana and tribal aspects of Native American culture.

Highlights included a fashion and textile collaboration by Claudia Simoes and Alicia Karynn Teixeira, who merged 1960s silhouettes, Japanese ikat prints and abstract expressionism.

Feijing Song and Erica Kim’s fashion and knitwear design collaboration added a bright spot to the show with colorful dresses and coats that were whimsical yet chic.

A tailored collection of menswear by Ran Bi incorporated a variety of materials, including plastic, into modern yet futuristic silhouettes. Innovative accessories, including an oversize wood-grain portfolio case by Alexander Toy, echoed the futuristic silhouettes with just the right amount of contrast.