UT Student Designers Light up the Runway

By Zoe Bator

There is no shortage of talent on the 40-acres of UT Austin. From biochemists and broadcast journalists to animators and astronomers, the university hosts some of the best talent from the state of Texas and beyond. The little-but-fierce Textiles and Apparel department is no exception.

On April 28. at the Fair Trade Market Center on Austin’s east side, 15 TXA seniors debuted their collections, each comprising a total of four different looks. Every designer worked throughout the semester to source their fabrics, draft their patterns and meet with models for garment fittings. Guests watched as each collection made its way down the runway, each different from the next and showcasing the individuality of the designer.

The show was organized by the University Fashion Group at UT, who coordinated everything from model casting and venue setup, down to the pizza at craft services and a Yerba Matte sponsorship. The crowd consisted of designer’s families, UT faculty and other Austin creatives eager to spot the next big thing.

The show started fashionably late of course, and at 6:45, the first model walked the stage, stopping to strike a pose at every mark. From ready-to-wear to more avant-garde pieces, the garments encapsulated a wide range of the trend diaspora. There genuinely was something for everybody — menswear in leather to pretty frills in pink.

Audience members clapped as the show drew to a close and all the student designers stood. They applauded not only for the hundreds of hours of labor that went into the show, but also for the fast-approaching futures of the young designers.

Watch the video here