On Thursday, April 19th, 2012, the apparel design seniors from UT Austin showcased their final collections at the annual fashion show put on by the University Fashion Group. The name of the show this year was “Contour” and was inspired by the senior designer’s showing of different lines, shapes, techniques and textures. Overall, the show brought forth a range of fashion silhouettes including athletic wear, menswear, costume-inspired pieces and interesting perspectives on evening and bridal. Each of the designers’ different aesthetics and inspirations behind their pieces truly showed the copious amount of creativity these young designers have and how much potential they have to make their mark in the world of fashion design.
The show opened with the designers’ knit fabric project. A striking trio from Jonathan Shakarisaz, Sofia Maldonado and Wendy Sandoval were front and center, all with short, yet elegant dresses. Daniela Vasquez introduced us to separates - a blue floral top with pink shorts, finished with a pair of comfortable white tennis shoes. A stunning gray and white tie-dyed dress from Albert Zhou drew “oohs” and “ahs” from the crowd, as Katrina Raz’s intricate dress turned heads as well. Albert Zhou, Katrina Raz, Rebekah Hoffer and Harrison Koiwai all took the Knitted Fabric Awards.
Several different themes were observed in the show this year, from the strikingly severe collections of Kaidon Ho, Stefant Phonthephasone and Harrison Koiwai, to the softer, more feminine designs of Ashley Trevino, Katrina Raz and Vivienne Hoang. There’s always a wide range of design aesthetic at the senior fashion show, and this year was no different.
The individual collections started with Sofia Maldonado, who showcased a collection based upon the colors and vibrancy of a Salvadoran market. Properly titled “Mercado,” Sofia’s collection has the ready-to-wear appeal that the mass market loves, but has that certain “spice” that sets it apart.
Marisa Chapman showcased career wear pieces, complete with floral fabrics.
Sara Essoufi has mastered the art of color blocking, and this was apparent with her final collection. Crimson paired with seafoam green, kelly green dashed with cerulean and dreamsicle orange teamed with magenta, all made the eyes dance.
Ashley Trevino was inspired by the movie “Casablanca” and the 1940s era for her senior collection, which felt like a resort wear line perfect for a summer cruise. The collection had a warmth that I felt separated it from the rest. In addition, it was accessorized wonderfully with sunglasses, earrings and a white floppy hat.
Chandler Hamilton took home the honorable mention awards of most marketable along with best collection. Her collection was inspired by the strong women of Haiti, and was created with coffee dyed harem cloth, leather and burlap. The leather accents in each piece were stunning and like Ashley Trevino’s, it was accessorized well. Women will want to wear this line. To learn more about her cause you can visit the
Haitian Creations web site.
Jonathan Shakarisaz presented a “disco bloodbath of fashion” that stood out due to its dark nature and impeccable tailoring. Jonathan presented a look with a blood stained striped shirt a la Friday the 13th with denim jeans that were constructed with great detail. Jonathan took home an award for Best Technical Design.
Daniela Vasquez’s Hello Kitty meets punk rock collection was inspired by Japanese street style and Harajuku culture.
Lauren Tullos took a different design approach than the rest of the senior designers by showcasing a casual line of sportswear, inspired by the Greek god Hermes. What I loved about this collection is that it wasn’t your run-of-the-mill sportswear.
Lauren Stewart’s collection was inspired by mid-century pieces and jetsetting. She used various shades of blue and shimmery fabric.
Andrea Salazar was inspired by Western ghost towns and deserts. Her inspiration was translated wonderfully through the use of crow feathers and other textures.
Loan Trinh’s Jil Sander inspired coats were a marvel at Contour, complete with origami folds and demure color choices.
Harrison Koiwai presented my favorite collection of the night. The inspiration behind his collection was his childhood and his exploration of his own identity as a biracial person. Each look had a different structural quality and was intriguing from start to finish. Harrison completed his collection with a kimono that had his childhood blanket sewn inside.
Rebekah Hoffer’s vivacious collection was properly titled “Psychadelic Mushrooms,” and was contrasted by the use of bright colors paired with black. I suggest that Rebekah should intern for Betsey Johnson, because she was a penchant for an over-the-top, punk rock aesthetic.
Wendy Sandoval showcased a sheet collection inspired by the 1960s music scene. With use of sheer fabrics, Wendy’s collection was sexy and daring, but still had a classically inspired look.
Andrea Conti’s collection was inspired by the women in her life and their fun personalities.
Vivienne Hoang showcased a softer version of an “Ice Queen.” Vivienne’s goal with her collection was to make neutral colors chic and have a sense of elegance. The intricacy in her collection was highly impressive.
Mai Tran’s collection was inspired by carousels. Her collection was created with many fabrics and interesting waist corsets.
Katrina Raz took an award for most innovative (tied with Albert Zhou) at Contour, for her collection that was created using laser cut construction. Her use of tropical colors and flawless construction made her collection one to praise.
Kaidon Ho’s collection may have been absent of color, but it had a sense of eclecticism due to the various materials used. Inspired by quartz and its natural surroundings and origins, Kaidon’s collection was androgynous and mysterious. It reminded me of a few shows from Rick Owens.
Janie Kang took home top honors for the night, winning best technical design - honorable mention and overall best collection. Janie’s career wear was inspired by “light” and was translated to her designs through the use of digital printing. She used a vivid yellow and cobalt blue that made the collection feel young.
Albert Zhou tied with Katrina Raz for most innovative. His collection, which included two menswear looks and one women’s look, was tailored and clean. One shirt featured a double collar, while the other shirt featured a tie sewn into the shirt. Albert is taking menswear to a whole new level with this spy and espionage themed collection.
Stefant Phonthephasone’s leather collection was inspired by his favorite show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Although each look used black leather, he also included the structural element of dyed orange leather, which all was cohesive with the black canvas of each look. Stefant’s collection was one of my favorite of the night and I can’t wait to see where fashion design takes him.
Samantha Kidd won most marketable with her collection inspired by Indian and Argentinian architecture. I could see this collection being sold at any Nordstrom store across the United States. It had an elegance that was impressively refined for a design student.
The spectacular show ended with evening and bridal wear. Stefant Phonthephasone won an honorable mention for best evening gown, Janie Kang won honorable mention for best bridal gown, Katrina Raz won best bridal gown and Harrison Koiwai won best evening gown. My favorite bridal and evening looks were Harrison Koiwai’s feather evening gown and Katrina Raz’s jaw-dropping wedding dress, which won first place at Dallas Career Day.
The creativity and hard work that goes into the designs each year is outstanding. Regardless of where these designers go in life, I hope that their experience in the Apparel Design Program stays with them.
By Tyler Neal, Fashion Adventures in Austin columnist
Images by Eddie Camacho
Among the racks are cute tops perfect for the hot weather ahead. This season it is all about large feminine florals and bright colors. Coral is one of the very popular colors and can be combined with neutrals or other bright colors such as turquoise. Adding a pair of shorts with any of the tops below will guarantee a cute outfit for a casual gathering or even class. 
Summer would not be summer without daytime dresses. Prototype Vintage has a great selection of dresses perfect for a casual barbecue or concert. Dresses cinched at the waist create a more feminine look and complement all body types. The black floral print dress goes great with the purple belt for a pop of color. The same can be said for the solid green dress and brown belt. Dresses are fun to wear because there are so many ways you can style them. Add a belt, necklace or earrings and don’t forget a cute handbag and you are set for a great day. 
