ART INSTITUTE OF CALIFORNIA — SAN FRANCISCO
On June 10, after the Westfield San Francisco Shopping Centre officially closed for the day and sent its shoppers home, the action began. The Art Institute of California - San Francisco held its annual Fashion Design program graduation show by the Westfield escalator, utilizing it as a moving catwalk. The guests, dressed as instructed in black and white, munched on popcorn and filled rows of folding chairs. The institute’s President Byron Chung, and highlighting the institute’s collaboration with Westfield. The contrast between the 11 young designers’ showcase and a commercial retail-heavy location was enhanced further by the collections’ experimental, raw nature. Shredded fabrics, exaggerated costumelike shapes, textured layers and the models’ teased, voluminous hair dictated an atmosphere of good-natured chaos, accompanied by upbeat disco tracks. Mark Figueroa demonstrated enviable crocheting skills with a series of knitted monochrome pants and overalls. Sylvia Trammel sent interesting combinations of tweed, silk and safety pins down the runway, showcasing artful prints on semi-see through fabrics and a clever palette of gray and beige. Yovvany Garcia focused on bold, larger-than life gowns with extra-large graphics. Fans of well-made pants were well-represented in another collection, by Araceli Rodriguez, who paired her sharp, fitted slacks with deconstructed, shredded tops. Michael J Johnson held nothing back with his men’s collection, playing with rich brocade, luscious velvet and pops of orange and neon pink. The show ended with the students dancing on the runway, flashmob style, to Jackson Five’s “Can You Feel It?” filling the empty mall with creative young energy.