Art Institute of Chicago to host 'Fashion 2013' from May 3

Presented Friday, May 3 three times throughout the day on Millennium Park’s Chase Promenade, Fashion 2013 will culminate with THE WALK—SAIC’s annual benefit supporting the production of student work and scholarships—at 5:30 p.m.

This year, THE WALK celebrates fashion designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte with the Legend of Fashion Award, as well as constant supporter of SAIC, Melissa Sage Fadim, with the Heart of Fashion Award.

“This magnificent show is a fitting platform for the marvelous, innovative work of our students. I am inspired by the creations that they continue to produce each year,” said SAIC President Walter E. Massey.

“This year, it is a special privilege to honor both Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte who, like many of these students, began their creative explorations at such a young age, as well as a true friend to SAIC and the Fashion Design department, Melissa Sage Fadim, whose passion and commitment to this institution makes events like this possible, including the annual fashion show.”

Fashion 2013 presents an electrifying runway show featuring more than 300 original garments created by undergraduate students in SAIC’s internationally renowned Fashion Design program, which boasts such distinguished alumni as Halston, Cynthia Rowley, Maria Pinto, Gary Graham, J. Morgan Puett and Lawrence Steele.

Students and faculty work to create a truly professional fashion runway show—stunning design, intriguing soundscapes, exquisite garments, and cutting-edge looks—by incorporating and combining techniques from the fields of sculpture, performance, design, technology, architecture, and installation. Seniors in SAIC’s acclaimed Department of Fashion Design will showcase complete collections of five looks; juniors will show a three-look collection; and sophomores will present one avant-garde look.

“Our strong team of faculty and students inspires us to advance, take more risks and follow unusual directions in order to break through to new territory,” said Associate Professor Anke Loh, Sage Chair in Fashion Design. “We are poised and ready to continue to experiment with our individual and collective inquiries into fashion, body, and garment.”

More than 50 models from Factor Runway will showcase designs as they walk down a 90-foot runway inside a 15,000-square-foot tent on Chase Promenade, a three-block-long walkway centrally located in Millennium Park.

Hairstyling is provided by ULTA; make-up services are provided by Maybelline New York. Fashion 2013 is produced and directed by SAIC faculty member Conrad Hamather, Graduate Coordinator of the Master of Design in Fashion, Body and Garment program, with talent direction by fellow SAICfaculty member Shane Gabier, an SAIC alumnus and co-founder of the clothing label Creatures of the Wind.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago