20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Gen Z Imagines the Future of Fashion
Outside the former Barneys on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, onlookers crowded in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows hoping for a peek into the Parsons BFA fall runway show.
Before the show, student designers gathered to talk about what's next for the industry.
Diana Schilling, who designed and modeled her clothing, pointed to her brother with autism as a source of inspiration often choosing her materials for those who may be hypersensitive or hyposensitive.
Mathew Josh also took inspiration in his family's immigration from Jamaica to New York. He utilized batik to color the textiles, blending traditional methods with contemporary silhouettes.
Rachel Sacksner used unconventional accessories, which she called 'materials of survival.' Her great-grandmother, a holocaust survivor, was married in a wedding dress made from a parachute.
Link Li was inspired by the dread of writing a résumé. Then he realized that clothing is a résumé of sorts. The result: deconstructed men's wear embellished with writing, which he called 'visual poetry.'
Olive Eng Canty championed what she called 'women's work,' incorporating knitting, felting and quilting. 'I really hope people get more excited about sustainability and slow fashion,' Ms. Canty said.
