CINCINNATI — When it comes to high fashion in the U.S. most people think of New York, not necessarily Ohio.
But for 70 years, some design students at the University of Cincinnati have been launching their careers in fashion with a runway show that attracts some major attention from the industry.
What You Need To Know
- It's the 70th year for the DAAP fashion show
- 30 models will walk the runway, showing off the work of 48 student designers
- The show is moving to MegaCorp Pavilion in Newport, KY this year
"Executives from American Eagle will be at our show this year and they’re one of our sponsors,” said Laurie Lisk Wilson, Associate Director of U.C.’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning. “We have students working for major designers in New York and major stores that have their own specialty brands. Other students create their own brands and do their own thing.”
During the five-year program, students learn about designing and crafting clothes. They also work in the industry and learn the business side of fashion, Wilson said.
The fashion show is the culmination of their work.
“It’s my graduation,” said Evan Forbes. He said watching models walk the runway wearing his garments means more than walking in the university’s commencement ceremony in a cap and gown.
Like many of the 48 designers in this year’s show, Forbes’ work is deeply personal.
“It’s sort of about my experience growing up in KY in a conservative area as a very queer person,” Forbes said. “It always feels like all eyes are on you at all times even when you don’t want them to be so this collection sort of blends business wear and clown wear and forces the wearer into center stage if you will and gives that power back to them.”
For designer Lorelei Lekson, her concerns about climate change inspired her collection.
“My collection explores the issue of sea level rise and climate change in that respect and how it will impact coastal cities in the future and just adapting to a semi-aquatic lifestyle,” she said.
Lekson incorporated fishing nets, pearls and cloth cut to look like seaweed into her pieces.
Other designers are going for a more tailored look, while others are spotlighting their ability to knit. Samantha Bennett’s collection features a handmade sweater and a wool coat in a color that doesn’t always get its spotlight on the runway: brown.
"I feel like brown is kind of a hard color to choose so I took a really long time to decide what shade of brown I wanted to use and I think pairing it with those pops of blue makes it a beautiful combination for people to want to wear," Bennett said.
One of the designers this year didn’t design wearable fashions, his clothes were virtual for models in the metaverse.
“It’s been an incredibly creative year,” Wilson said.
In all, 48 designers will be showcasing their work with 30 models who will walk the runway to music and dramatic lighting at a new venue in Greater Cincinnati: The MegaCorp Pavilion in Newport, Kentucky.
“They came to us and we couldn’t be more excited to be in such a great space,” Wilson said.
The show is sold out and a few standing-room-only seats are still available for the event, Wilson said.
She said the goal for the audience hasn’t changed in the 70 years since the show began
“That what they’re seeing is so unique, so heartfelt and so well done, that they’ll just be blown away.”
“I’m so excited to see them move to have the lights, the audience - I’m very excited,” Forbes said.
“It truly is exciting,” said Bennett. “To be able to see everyone’s collection, it’s going to be incredible.”