Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) spring/summer 2017 collection catwalk show for NYFW

The Rhode Island School of Design offered a fresh and creative catwalk show, in which all designs and creations were completed by the graduating seniors! With an average of eight looks per graduate, there was a range of fun ideas that promised a successful career beyond graduation.

Chris Mena presented a hybrid of styles through a mixture of graphic designs, famous labels, colours and logos. A jacket with SWAT on the back and OBEY on the front, while the sleeves had alternating patterns, showed the versatility that is possible in designing.

Other pieces with funky sleeves, created by another graduate, were worn in extremely unorthodox ways. In fact, several graduates had assembled looks with models wearing their vest backwards, their jacket upside down – or two baseball caps on the shoulders, worn as shoulder pads, even.

The denim segment was fit with rips, cut-outs and variations in patterns. The colours came in with beautiful portraits painted on the material, such as a large multicoloured face on an oversized jacket. Other colorful pieces resembled patches of grass, sportswear, and carnival-like designs.

But the most moving segment in the show was presented in light and recognition of the Black Lives Matter movement, and a tribute to Trayvon Martin: one shirt had BLM plastered on red, while another model held a bag of Skittles down the runway.

The Rhode Island School of Design collection was more innovative than anything else. The designs were definitely original and reassured us of a promising future for the new graduates.

Kristen Martin
Photos: Dan Lecca

For further information about RISD visit here.