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Imagine being a student or new graduate and seeing your collections on the runway at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Some designers don’t achieve that in a lifetime of passionate, hard work. Now imagine that you’re in final preparations with your garments and models backstage; this is the moment you’ve worked so hard for all these past months. The buzz of the crowd is palpable from backstage. The students and alumni you’ll see tonight competed against other Art Institutes students to begin their journey that culminates on the runway tonight. There are collections inspired by architecture, the playground, Sarah Bernhardt, and geometric shapes. Although their inspiration comes from many places, our 12 designers have one thing in common: They’re learning what they love to do, for life. We couldn’t be more proud of them. Tonight is their night. Thank you for being part of it. The ‘Paradigm’ collection is designed for a woman that is confident in herself. This type of woman is strong, outspoken, and knows exactly what she wants from life. I call her ‘the conscious woman.’ The conscious woman likes to wear edgy silhouettes, textures, colors, prints, and isn’t afraid of being distinct. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Nina began sketching and designing sneakers while in high school. She served in the U.S. Navy, stationed in San Diego, California as an engineer. Being in the Navy expanded her perspective of the world—and after being honorably discharged in 2012, she decided to revisit her love for fashion design. Nina is building her industry experience as a ready-to-wear intern at Diane von Fürstenberg. NINA PERDOMO Current student pursuing an Associate of Applied Arts, Fashion Design, The Art Institute of New York City It all started with, ‘What would I wear if I were a male?’ Something that represents confidence, pride, and style—but doesn’t scream it. I’m all about the classic, simple, clean look but with a modern day twist. And what’s more classic than black and white? The modern twist for color was a mustard yellow—stylish yet masculine. Grace Ahn grew up watching her parents—both exquisite tailors—taking garments apart and putting them back together. She viewed it as surgery—and still does. While she was surrounded by fashion as a child, she says that the most important trait that she gained from her parents was discipline. Grace is an intern at Stanley Korshak, where she works to surpass expectations through her drive and motivation to reach for more—for better—each day. GRACE AHN 2014, Associate of Applied Arts, Fashion Design, The Art Institute of Dallas, a campus of South University My inspiration came from modern Thai architecture, which maintained some traditional character like layers, angled lines from the roof due to tropical weather, and patterns from mosaic works. Jamaree Eiammanassakul was born and raised in Thailand. Jamaree enrolled in an interior architectural program in Thailand, at the School of Architecture and Design (International Program), where she earned a bachelor’s degree and worked for a year as a junior interior designer. She realized that fashion design was her passion, and that architecture was her biggest inspiration. Her design style is built upon simple geometric shapes and what she calls a “minimal” look— blended with rich details and hidden concepts. JAMAREE EIMMANASSAKUL Fashion Design Diploma, 2014, The Art Institute of Vancouver My vision for ‘Frozen Bone’ was to combine fluid lines of draping and soft structural tailoring. I was inspired by the French film actress, Sarah Bernhardt, from the late 1800s. Her beauty was versatile as she played both male and female roles, which is why the mood of this collection plays on a slight androgynous note. Romina Vairo is an Italian-American fashion designer and artist who combines her innovation and artisanal skills to create influential womenswear. Romina studied at Polimoda International Institute of Fashion Design in Florence, Italy for two years before transferring to The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. From the age of five, Romina could be found sketching in the corner of her immigrant father’s pizzeria, surrounded by people fascinated by her creativity. ROMINA VAIRO Bachelor of Science, Fashion Design, 2014, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Every woman deserves to be not only beautiful, but interestingly beautiful. She deserves to own a piece that reflects her unique beauty and shows that she can create a conversation by letting her style speak for itself. This is Fierce meets Feminine. Alexa DiBiasio’s experience in the fashion industry includes working with two of Houston’s most influential designers—David Peck and “Project Runway” Season 2 Winner Chloe Dao. Alexa has a passion for womenswear and freelances as both a fashion illustrator and patternmaker while working full-time at francesca’s in Houston. ALEXA DIBIASIO Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion Design, 2013, The Art Institute of Houston I am expressing my love of understated drama when it comes to clothing, as well as pushing against tradition and conformity. As a designer, I believe that it is important to be fearless when expressing ideas. I really wanted to experiment with shape and silhouette, and think of ways to push myself creatively. Sebastian Cubides is intrigued by conceptual expression— he combines luxurious textiles with unexpected materials to translate unique ideas into wearable art. His collection, “Architectural,” was inspired by renderings of a research lab in the Ukraine and a commercial center in China. Sebastian’s design explores how the exaggeration of shapes from the built environment could lead to new silhouettes and what he calls “wearable architecture.” SEBASTIAN CUBIDES Current student pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion Design, Miami International University of Art & Design I often ask myself what would Marlene Dietrich have worn in certain situations— how would she behave and move? I base a lot of my decisions on scenarios that play in my mind and I try to incorporate the spirit of that era into every piece I design. Jesus Romero was born in Tucson, Arizona, but grew up in a small town in Mexico. He returned to the United States when he was 17 and joined the military a year later, serving in Afghanistan and Korea. When he completed his military service, he relocated to San Francisco to study fashion. His passion lies in 3-dimensional design development, with ideas evolving as he drapes, cuts, and sews. Jesus was awarded 2nd place in 2013’s Cool vs. Cruel fashion design competition, sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States and The Art Institutes. In June 2014, he won student awards for Most Marketable collection and Best-in-Show. JESUS ROMERO Current student pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion Design, The Art Institute of California—San Francisco, a campus of Argosy University I like to be able to tell a story with my garments—you have to walk all the way around the garment to appreciate it. I went for a more futuristic look, mixing an organic then industrial geometric feel to the piece. Parker Trumble is a U.S Navy veteran who spent much of his service time in Italy. Parker’s love for the arts lead him to work with the finest leathers and metals while he was in Italy, gaining fine craftsmanship skills at Dora Shoe Company. A collection that Parker created while still a student gained the attention of the Perry Ellis Company—which not only provided him with a scholarship but also offered him an internship at the company. Before the end of his internship—and only two weeks before his graduation—Parker was offered a full-time job as a designer for the Perry Ellis Company. PARKER TRUMBLE Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion Design, 2014, Miami International University of Art & Design I started by thinking how would I interpret Chinese calligraphy. I decided to use cut out fabric to represent the hard and soft strokes of Chinese lettering. I used contrasting fabrics such as pique, silk, and organza, and spray painted suede and punched leather. Chutian Zhong’s collection, “Stroke of Calligraphy,” reflects the traditional heritage and culture of his homeland, China. The overall style is simple and chic, with intricate detailing inspired by Chinese lettering. Chutian’s industry experience includes working as a design intern for Derek Lam and Anna Sui. CHUTIAN ZHONG Bachelor of Science, Fashion Design, 2014, The Art Institute of Philadelphia My design process began with the thought of both static and shifting shapes. This idea led me to research geometric lines, minimalist architecture, and abstract sculpture. Daniela Ramirez’s design inspiration is bold—yet minimal. She’s influenced by her architect father and her mother’s strong connection to the family’s Mexican roots, and the cultural diversity of the San Francisco Bay Area. Daniela began dancing Ballet Folklorico professionally at the age of five and was also exposed to Latino art. These influences allow her to be widely varied in her fashion design—creating an elaborately detailed gown one day and a graphic-modern ready-to-wear garment the next. The common thread in her designs is attention to detail and dedication to elite artisanship. DANIELA RAMIREZ Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion Design, 2014, The Art Institute of California—San Francisco, a campus of Argosy University My designs and fabric were inspired by the architectural works of Zaha Hadid [who said], ‘There are 360 degrees, so why stick to one? I want to be beyond 360 degrees!’ Zaha Hadid is not the typical beautiful woman with a model’s body; she has more than that. She has a mind that has no limits, like her designs.

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