In its 20th year, the 2023 Lynn Fashion Showcase did not disappoint as Lynn University students worked together to produce a highly professional edgy show. Known for its “learning-by-doing” educational approach, Lynn’s College of Business and Management, Fashion and Retail Program, and the College of Communication and Design collaborate on this stylish annual event. As laid out in the program, the Colleges provide students with “cutting-edge curricula, creating synergies inspired from studies in entrepreneurship, creativity, technology, innovation,” and at the same time, help lay strong business and communication foundations. Dr. Katrina Carter-Tellison, Vice President of Academic Affairs, shared that, “The overall planning process for the Lynn Fashion Showcase is 6 to 8 months and the most intense period of this student-led project is 4 to 8 weeks leading up to the show.”
To say it’s quite a production is an understatement. The entire second floor of the library was transformed into a world-class runway lined with reserved seating. I was expecting the queen of the fashion industry, Anna Wintour, to pop in at any minute in search for the next great designer, editor, stylist, communications director, photographer or merchandiser. I also cannot fail to mention the entrance into the Eugene M. And Christine E. Lynn Library. The exterior featured fashion NFTs, the cutting-edge application of non-fungible tokens, abstract-looking butterflies symbolizing this year’s showcase theme “The Evolution of Expression,” and the chosen black and white color scheme. The overall aesthetic was jaw-dropping sleek.
As the room filled with eager guests and the lights dimmed, it was showtime with a warm welcome from Dr. RT Good, Dean and Professor of the College of Business and Management. “The Lynn Fashion Showcase is one of the many ways Lynn students majoring in fashion and retail take on a real-world challenge by featuring a fashion retail theme and producing a live production to demonstrate their execution skills. We’re proud of our students and what they can do. The Lynn Fashion Showcase helps demonstrate to themselves and others that they can get the job done,” said Dr. Good.
This year’s Curated Designer was E’Naiyah Frazier, a Lynn University alumni who went on to study at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Frazier has already started making a name for herself in the fashion industry with her innovative and sustainable approach to designing denim. Her collection inspired by Kintsugi, the Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold to embrace flaws and imperfections, was a beautiful start to the fashion show.
In total, nine different collections were presented by designers, boutique owners and fashion design students at Miami-Dade College. Each collection was perfectly paired with music that encapsulated the specific vibes of the looks. At times, both the audience and the models were ready to dance. The music selection was yet again a testament to the overall production quality of the Fashion Showcase.
Major kudos to all of the students and faculty who worked together on an impressive display of professionalism, innovation, collaboration and artistic expression. And, just as in the real world, the team is already discussing next year’s Lynn Fashion Showcase. With the event’s popularity and extensive waitlist, one of the main areas of focus according to Dr. Carter-Tellison will be to increase the capacity so that more guests will have the opportunity to see first-hand the talent that is emerging right here in Boca Raton.
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