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November Events at ���Ĵ�ý

A range of performances and experiences showcasing student and faculty artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.

Justin Dougan-LeBlanc Selected for Open Style Lab AI Research Residency

���Ĵ�ý Professor Justin Dougan-LeBlanc joins Open Style Lab’s 2026 AI Research Residency, where he explores how AI could expand access to personal style and help designers rethink accessibility in fashion.

���Ĵ�ý Students Bring Game Day Style to Chicago Sky Season Opener

���Ĵ�ý fashion students and local brand SOUNDOFF launched a custom fan apparel collection for the Chicago Sky, blending sportswear design with hands-on industry experience.

The Power of Persistence: ���Ĵ�ý's Student-Led Gala Celebrates Creativity and Resilience

"The Power of Persistence" gala showcases student innovation, teamwork, and determination, all while raising funds for scholarships supporting student success.

Fashion Design Student Joelle Olabode Wins CFDA Scholarship

Olabode was chosen for a $25,000 scholarship from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

‘Boy Meets Girl x Strawberry Shortcake’ Collab Makes Waves in Adaptive Fashion

���Ĵ�ý’s School of Fashion partnered with Boy Meets Girl on adaptive fashion, leading to a sold-out collection and future collaborations.

Welcoming Interim President Jerry Tarrer and a New Academic Structure for 2024-2025 School Year

���Ĵ�ý kicks off the new academic school year with a renewed spirit and excitement to welcome freshmen and transfer students to its South Loop campus on September 3.

���Ĵ�ý Students Rock L’Oréal's Global Competition 

Angie Belloso, Brianna Jennes ’24, and Breyona Smith ’24 just had the trip of a lifetime to London, snagging second place at L'Oréal Brandstorm.

Spring Semester In Review At ���Ĵ�ý

Spring 2024: ���Ĵ�ý Highlights

Fashion Show Leverages Student Talent From Multiple Disciplines

���Ĵ�ý students come together to produce and promote an end-of-year showcase of student fashion designs.

Get Ready for Manifest Arts Festival 2024, a Student-Powered Event

This is everything attendees need to know before ���Ĵ�ý’s Manifest Arts Festival: Breakthrough 2024.

Ask the Expert: How to Style Yourself for Graduation

���Ĵ�ý Adjunct Professor Rachel Jimenez Penca uses her personal styling expertise to advise graduates on what to wear on their big day.

���Ĵ�ý Team Wins U.S. L'Oréal Brandstorm Competition for Fourth Year in a Row

As the U.S. winners, students Angie Belloso, Breyona Smith, and Brianna Jennes earn an all-expense paid trip to London for the next stage of the international competition.

Empowering Creatives at Shop���Ĵ�ý

During Women's History Month, we honor female-identifying artists who make Shop���Ĵ�ý a unique shopping experience in the heart of ���Ĵ�ý’s campus.

Drag Superstar Shea Couleé ’11 Returns to ���Ĵ�ý

���Ĵ�ý welcomed back Alum Shea Couleé ’11 for a panel discussion and reception unveiling Couleé-curated fashion exhibit window.

Fashion Studies Chair Colbey Reid Publishes New Book and Article on the Domestic Posthuman

���Ĵ�ý’s Colbey Reid and her co-author look at various iterations of the posthuman and assert the need for alternative, feminist readings of technology and the future of humanity.

���Ĵ�ý and Local Nonprofit Collaborate to Showcase Valuable LBGTQ+ Community Resource 

In January, the windows at 618 S. Michigan Avenue feature examples of clothing available at the Brave Space Alliance, a place where members of the LGBTQ+ community can find free gender-affirming clothing and more.

What to Watch and Where to Wander This Winter: ���Ĵ�ý Edition

���Ĵ�ý and its creative community of alums, faculty, and students offer plenty of opportunities to keep you entertained this holiday season and beyond.

Five ���Ĵ�ý Students Earn Prestigious Fashion Scholarships

Once again, the Fashion Scholarship Fund has awarded five ���Ĵ�ý students scholarships and funds to travel to New York City for a gala event recognizing their accomplishments. 

Student Work Takes Center Stage at Unleashed 2023

Unleashed 2023 took place at ���Ĵ�ý on November 30, showcasing extraordinary student talent and raising more than $700,000 in scholarships. Departing from the traditional fundraiser format, the Student Center transformed into a multi-floor immersive arts showcase, exploring the theme of "Connecting" across various creative disciplines.

���Ĵ�ý and the Chicago Fashion Incubator Announce New Partnership

The Chicago Fashion Incubator will transition its operations to a new speaker series at ���Ĵ�ý.

Integrating Hip Hop Into the Student Experience

As hip hop turns 50, we look at ���Ĵ�ý’s connections to the cultural phenomena that has impacted music, dance, fashion, art, film, and so much more.

���Ĵ�ý Fashion Studies Symposium Teaches Lessons in Inclusivity

���Ĵ�ý faculty explore what it means to make, merchandise, retail, market and celebrate fashion that engages with, rather than denies, the existence of most people’s bodies.

���Ĵ�ý Announces the 2023 Chicagoland Transfer Awards

The award provides ten $15,000 scholarships and one full-tuition scholarship to students transferring from Chicago-area community colleges to ���Ĵ�ý.

Designing Bandages: Curad Competition Scores Students Cash Prizes

Fashion Studies students participate in a design competition sponsored by Medline, maker of Curad bandages.

Fashion Studies Students Participate in ARC'TERYX Design Challenge

The outdoor apparel and equipment company announced winners over the weekend.

Fashion Studies Alum's Internship Launches Career in Apparel Design

Alum and Designer Rebecca Martin BFA ‘19 now works in New York City on brands seen at Walmarts and Targets across the country.

���Ĵ�ý To Host Fashion Revolution Week Activities April 20-27

Fashion Revolution Week activities at ���Ĵ�ý include an ethical fashion panel discussion with "Worn’" author Sofi Thanhauser, a display of student work, a mending workshop, and more.

Three-Peat First-Place Win for ���Ĵ�ý's L'Oréal Brandstorm Team

Student team from ���Ĵ�ý wins innovation competition by leveraging new technologies to promote brand.

Fashion Studies Associate Professor Justin Dougan-LeBlanc Pushes Boundaries

Trained as an architect, ���Ĵ�ý’s Justin Dougan-LeBlanc takes on challenges in both fashion and art.

���Ĵ�ý Students Win Scholarships and Take on New York During NRF Foundation Student Program

NRF Foundation scholarship recipients from ���Ĵ�ý place second in Student Challenge and enjoy three days of fashion industry events and networking opportunities.

���Ĵ�ý Students Awarded Prestigious Fashion Scholarships

In April, five ���Ĵ�ý scholarship winners will travel to New York City where the Fashion Scholarship Fund will recognize the students at a gala event.

���Ĵ�ý Students Named Finalists in NRF Foundation’s Student Challenge

���Ĵ�ý students will earn scholarships and again head to New York City to meet with retail industry leaders and attend the NRF Foundation Honors event.

Fashion Design Alum Shaquita Reed ’18 Expresses Herself Using Different Mediums

Shaquita Reed shares her journey as a mixed media artist, fashion designer, teacher, and graduate student

Sophomore Fashion Studies Student Awarded Rising Star Scholarship

Created by the NRF Foundation, Rising Star Scholarships help students like ���Ĵ�ý's Mollie Baker gain valuable opportunities to learn about career opportunities in retail and attend the NRF Foundation Student Program in January.

���Ĵ�ý Fashion Studies Students Compete in O’Hare Fashion Packed Challenge While CTVA Students Document the Action

Five Fashion Studies students are participating in the Fourth Annual O'Hare Fashion Packed Challenge, which has all been caught on camera by CTVA documentary students hired by the Chicago Department of Aviation.

Finding the Right Fit

Aspiring to help build a more inclusive-fashion industry on the business side, senior Miranda Prater discovers her perfect fit at ���Ĵ�ý.

Art Institute Contest Awards ���Ĵ�ý’s Cezanne Window Exhibit

The 2022 Project Windows visual display contest gives “Best Design” award to Fashion Studies’ “Cezanne Undone: Another PerRetrospective” window exhibit.

Two ���Ĵ�ý Students Named Next Generation Scholarship Semifinalists by NRF Foundation

���Ĵ�ý students once again earn top spots and compete for $10,000 and $25,000 scholarships.

���Ĵ�ý's Cezanne Window Exhibit Pays Tribute to Artist Through Fashion Design

���Ĵ�ý-trained designers delve into painter Paul Cezanne’s process and showcase their Cezanne-inspired designs at 618 S. Michigan.

���Ĵ�ý Earns Top Spot in L’Oréal Brandstorm U.S. Finals: Team Heads to International Semifinals for Second Consecutive Year

Fashion and Communication students from ���Ĵ�ý pitch a product to empower inclusive beauty at L’Oréal Brandstorm 2022 and are recognized for their stellar work. Public voting between May 9 and 15 will help determine winners of the semifinals.

For Second Consecutive Year, a ���Ĵ�ý Student Wins NRF Foundation's Next Generation Award

Robert Davison Long wins the 2022 NRF Foundation’s Next Generation Award and two ���Ĵ�ý teams place in the NRF Student Challenge, earning students scholarships and making ���Ĵ�ý the most winning institution at this year’s NRF Foundation’s Honors.

���Ĵ�ý Fashion Dominates NRF Foundation Honors 2022

This year, nine ���Ĵ�ý students have risen to the top level of two major student competitions—the NRF Foundation Student Challenge and the NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship. The winners will be announced April 13.

Fashion Study Collection Wedding Salon on March 16 and 23

The Fashion Study Collection at ���Ĵ�ý, which includes wedding attire and wedding-related items, is home to more than 6,000 items dating back to the 1840s.

NRF Videos Feature ���Ĵ�ý Fashion Studies Finalist and Faculty

The National Retail Foundation releases videos featuring ���Ĵ�ý Fashion Studies finalist Robert Davison Long and Associate Professor Dana Connell.

Fashion, the Future, and the Creation of NoRal Apparel

For LaRon Hickerson, known as Ron DuWayne, BFA Fashion Design ‘03, community has been at the heart of all of his creations. He sat down with us to talk about the road he took to creating NoRal Apparel, his pathbreaking menswear brand.

Fashion Studies Student Ben Sill on Building an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Since his second year at ���Ĵ�ý, Fashion student Ben Sill has been dedicated to making the most of his time with experts in the field.

Simone Tobias, Instructor teaching Patternmaking and Construction, on Fashion, Design and her Beginnings

"Carve your own path but do so with sensibility for the finite resources, empathy for others, curiosity of the world around you, and meaningful creativity."

Fashion Student Makes Finals for the Gucci CFDA Changemakers Scholarship

Kyndal Gennings, a senior, has made waves with her fashion collection, "A Jubilant Legacy."

Assistant Professor Melissa Gamble Questions the Rules

Assistant Professor Melissa Gamble on asking the hard questions, and why asking them pays off.

Dance Department, Fashion Studies Faculty Member Win Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Teaching Activism Awards

���Ĵ�ý announces awardees for its first ever DEI Teaching Activism Awards.

For Fashion Student Amaiya Sims, Winning the NRF Next Generation Scholarship is Just the Beginning

Award-winning Fashion student Amaiya Sims on going all-out for the dream.

Oula Yassine '20 and the Advent of the Culture Collection

Fashion alum Oula Yassine discusses how her time at ���Ĵ�ý helped her develop her unique style and advance her career.

Delvin McCray '16: From Switching Majors to Making it to the Fashion Majors

���Ĵ�ý alum Delvin McCray reflects on how he moved into the world of fashion, the roads to Project Runway and Paris Fashion Week

���Ĵ�ý Students Win Fashion Scholarship Fund Case Study Scholarships

Three ���Ĵ�ý Fashion Students win Case Study Scholarships from the Fashion Scholarship Fund and a trip to the Fashion Scholarship Fund Awards Gala in New York.

���Ĵ�ý Students Win First Place in Regionals for National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC), American Advertisement Federation

Students head to national finals for second year in a row.

Student Kathryn Williams Named Semi-Finalist for the National Retail Federation Foundation “Next Generation” Scholarship

Williams is among 25 semi-finalists from colleges across the country; Winner will receive $25,000 toward their education.

Students Awarded Scholarships from National Retail Foundation and YMA Fashion Scholarship Foundation

���Ĵ�ý students earned $27,500 in national scholarships for their fashion design, merchandising, and marketing skills.

Four Students Awarded Scholarships from the Fashion Scholarship Fund

Students Cassidy Hofschulte, Rhyarna McBride, Kendall McDermott, and Andrea Menendez have won a total of $20K in scholarship money from the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund.

At the Forefront of Fashion Studies

Lauren Downing Peters and Justin LeBlanc join the Fashion Studies Department to advance the department’s mission toward a curriculum focused on innovation and inclusion.

Imagining the Future of Fashion

After a semester full of accolades, the Fashion Studies Department is looking to the future of fashion through sustainability.

NBC-Chicago Features ���Ĵ�ý Student NRF Winners

���Ĵ�ý students make headlines after winning first and second place at the 2018 National Federation Student Challenge Competition. Video included here.

Sustainable Fashion Takes to the Skies

Fashion Studies Department partners with United Airlines to design recycled banners into fashionable carry-on bags.

Alexander Knox: A Project Runway Favorite

Fashion Studies senior Alexander Knox shares his journey from ���Ĵ�ý College to Season 13 of Project Runway.

Enduring Style: Practice Makes Perfect

���Ĵ�ý College’s Fashion Studies program is partnering with Willis Tower for its Enduring Style: Practice Makes Perfect exhibition on display throughout the building’s ground-floor lobby through Sept. 5.