MECA Fashion 2017

May has been a complete mash-up of amazing events. I’m behind in all my documentation, but eager to share the wonders of Maine College of Art’s 5th Annual Fashion Show on May 4. Illustration Department Chair Mary Anne Lloyd was my date, and we enjoyed chatting with Textile and Fashion Design Adjunct Professor Jill McGowen before the show. The event took place in the ICA Gallery where Director of Exhibitions and Special Projects Erin Hutton rounded up the best crew with her signature magic.

Program Coordinator for Continuing Studies Louise Tuski was the MC for the first fashion show in April of 2013, when the TFD department was a little sprout. Here she is (on the left) with the current Chair of the program, Betsy Scheintaub.

Development Officer Dietlind Vander Schaaf was this year’s MC, herself a frequent model for South Street Linen.

The show began with model Linda Holtslander wearing a knit fiber dress with impossibly long sleeves, designed by Grace Foxen. I made sketches of some of my favorites….and this piece just looked downright cozy. Plus RED.

Leave it to MECA students to be fresh, creating eye-catching accessories like this adornment by Cassie Groover.

Mary Anne and I were delighted to spy a couple of our illustration students as models. Here is Veronica Jones, wearing a gorgeous dress by Anna Morse, her roommate.

Here is Kat Harris, stunning in another dress by Anna Morse.

This model was in disguise until we realized it was none other than Photography major Kat Miller, rocking a felted suit by Allison West.

I had seen Ariana Faria’s thesis presentation the week before, in which she shared the process for her line that focused on leather corsets in a new way. Her inspirations from a semester in Florence were fascinating.

Spectacular to see them all together!

I loved this piece by Justin Desper.

He also had a line with futuristic shapes called Daedalus or Viri et Machina.

There were 70 models and so many fabulous pieces, it was a blur of color and form. Fun to mingle with models afterwards.

Congratulations to all the designers and models! Bravo!!!

You can see some of these garments on display in Congregate, the 2017 BFA Thesis Exhibition on view through May 20. Be sure to check out our Illustration seniors, too. I head to the State Theater tomorrow for commencement. So proud of all of them!