Bright Future of Jefferson’s Fashion Students Showcased

With inspirations ranging from the Women’s Rights Movement to ’80s toys to life during quarantine, 18 fashion design seniors showcased their looks at Jefferson’s signature Fashion Design Show.

“Tonight, Jefferson is at its most creative and inspiring,” University President Dr. Susan Aldridge told the sold-out crowd of current and prospective students and families, Jefferson leadership, faculty, staff and fashion industry.

Emceed by NBC10’s Bill Henley, the April 23 event at Philadelphia’s 23rd Street Armory marked the first time since 2019 Jefferson held its full celebrated show. It went on hiatus during the pandemic, replaced by a fashion film highlighting student work, which later included a smaller show.

Each senior presented four looks down the runway, with NBC10’s Katy Zachry providing commentary. Many fashion students collaborated with textile, industrial and visual communication design students to complete their ensembles. Behind the scenes, fashion design and fashion merchandising and management underclassmen in the student organization Fashion Industry Association kept everything rolling, dressing models, organizing and steaming clothes.

Dr. Aldridge praised all the students involved and applauded the fashion design program for recently being named among the best in the world by CEOWORLD magazine. She also proudly noted that 98% of Jefferson graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within months of Commencement.

“Tonight, you will witness the power of that education,” Dr. Aldridge says. “Through design thinking, empathy and ingenuity, our students create a more beautiful, functional and human-centered future.”

Amy Brito’s collection, “The Divine,” explored power, strength and rebellion and used natural and synthetic fibers, such as silk, wool, viscose and rayon. Each piece incorporated upcycled hardware like vintage chains, buckles and watch faces, telling the story of family craftsmanship passed down through generations and reimagined.

Winner of the President’s Award for Best Senior Collection, Brito loved being part of the fashion show revival, a moment she savored with her classmates.

“This university gave me the freedom to find who I am as a designer,” Brito says. “This show is more than just presenting a beautiful collection. It’s a representation of growth, education and endless creativity.”

Fellow senior Jayson Streets, the Allen Sirkin Award for Excellence in Design Innovation winner, relished seeing his work on the runway and shifting from “a fashion design student to a true fashion designer.” The off-season beach, crows and craftmanship of vintage garments inspired his men’s fall/winter collection, “Beach Crow,” done in collaboration with textile student Olivia Connor.

Other award winners from the night include the Coates Brothers Clothing of Philadelphia Award for Excellence in Workmanship and Quality to McKayla Bugbee for her non-traditional bridal collection, “Lucky Bride”; the Baldridge Award for Most Creative Collection to Jade Burriss for her whimsical spring/summer womenswear collection, “Wonderscape,” done in collaboration with textile student Candace Betts; and the L. Tadd and Sandy Schwab Award for Most Ready for Retail to Erin Keefe for the sustainably minded “Full of Scrap.”

With textile student Skylar Strouss, Keefe also won the Fashion and Textiles Futures Center Award for Excellence in Collaborative Textile Design for Full of Scrap. Inspired by the nostalgic art of scrapbooking, the womenswear collection encapsulates traditional home-sewn comfort through vintage fabrics and trims and hand-worked applique made from textile waste.

Along with celebrating student work, the event honored two esteemed fashion design alumni. Class of 1994 grad Jorge Luis Salinas—founder and creative director for J. Salinas—received the Spirit of Design Award, presented to designers who have made outstanding contributions to the fashion and design industry through innovation. Previous recipients include Carson Kressley, Stuart Weitzman and Tommy Hilfiger.

“I’m honored to be here after more than 30 years,” Salinas says. “Coming back brings back memories of those years full of learning—not just technical skills but also the confidence to trust my ideas and embrace my identity.”

Class of 2013 grad Alicia Pinckney—Jordan Global men’s senior apparel designer at Nike—earned the Fashion Design Alumni Award. She established the Black Talent in Design and Fashion Fund in 2020.

“Fourteen years ago, in Professor Carly Kusy’s garment structures class, I discovered my love for menswear design,” says Pickney, who presented her work as a sophomore and senior at the Jefferson Fashion Show. “That passion shaped my journey throughout the industry. It feels like a full-circle moment to be here today.”

Kusy, interim fashion design program director, closed the 90-minute show, congratulating Pickney, Salinas and the students on a remarkable evening.

“Our senior class has amazed us once again with their passion, drive and unrelenting creativity,” she says. “On behalf of the entire faculty, we must say how proud we are of every one of you. You’ve pushed boundaries, challenged conventions and brought your boldest ideas to life. You’re the bright future of fashion.”

Watch the Jefferson Fashion Show here.