University of Texas apparel and design students showcased their senior collections inspired by the word “transcend” at the Division of Textiles and Apparel Annual Fashion Show on April 18. This year’s event marked the largest number of expected attendees in the show’s history.​

The annual fashion show has been around since at least the early 1950s and first showed in the Frank Erwin Center 17 years ago in The Lone Star Room. The event remains at the center but now takes place in a new room, the main event center. The change in rooms came as a result of the event’s growing support. The events expected attendance has grown to 5,000 attendees since an expected 500 in 1997.

“The fashion show has been going on for decades, so nobody is really able to track down exactly when it actually started but I do know it has been staged in the Frank Erwin Center since 1997,” Eve Nicols, director of the fashion show, said.

The event allows graduating seniors to put everything they learned to the test and present their work to the Austin community and other designers. 23 designers took what they learned during their time at UT and put together a collection that embodied the word “transcend” this year.​

“This year’s show is inspired by the ability to go beyond limits, and the show title, “Transcend,” embodies this notion fully. They are encouraged to push boundaries and follow their passions, lending to a creative and one-of-a-kind experience for the audience,” according to the University Fashion Group.

Fashion and luxury lifestyle magazine, Society Diaries’ Editor-in-Chief Lance Avery Morgan was optimistic about this year’s designs after previewing the looks during the mid-semester. Morgan, a judge for this year’s bridal and evening gown division has been a part of the show for several years now.

“A lot of what we saw was fantastic,” Morgan said about the preview. “A lot of it had the bones, the real making of something with an ‘it’ factor. “

From Aspiring Doctor to Designer​​​​​​​​​​

Nickie Garcia, senior at The University of Texas, also grew with the apparel and design department. Garcia began college as a biology major but made a transition to textiles and apparel her junior year. Garcia originally held the intentions of going to medical school after getting her undergraduate degree, but realized biology wasn’t in her future.​

Garcia remembers her first experiences in the textiles and apparel department as nerve wrecking because she came into the program with no sewing knowledge.

“I remember being so excited after Karen Bravo, our professor, taught us how to set up a sewing machine,” Garcia said. “I have a machine at home and I was able to set it up on my own. It was the happiest moment ever.”

The show’s design process started at the beginning of Garcia’s senior year with the planning of active wear and continued in the second semester with the planning of a three-piece collection and either a bridal or evening wear look.

The time between walking into the classroom and making it to the actual fashion show went quickly after experiencing critiques, making alterations, and completely changing designs, according to Garcia. The designers specifically went through midterm reviews, professor evaluations, and a final judging process.

“The process is fast. A little too fast, at least that is how it feels. When you are designing, you get a few minutes with your professor. She will either say come up with new ideas completely or this is great. The next day you are buying fabric, draping, pattern-making, and then your final product,” Garcia said.

Garcia used the judges’ and professors’ reviews to her advantage and improved one of her designs. One of the judges raised concern over a top that could potentially show too much skin. Garcia took the suggestion and fixed her outfit. She also found inspiration to completely change one of her designs.

“It’s funny because I was going to originally do roller derby but my professor was looking at my design and she was saying it would be neat if I would add a bomber jacket. Then it just clicked. Amelia Earhart. From there it kind of flowed and turned into garment,” Garcia said.​