design: Jessica Bobillot. photo: Alexis Achten
Where to look for Portland’s next top fashion designers? Some of Portland’s most interesting designers will move in from elsewhere like Rachel Mara. Others, like Sarah Weick and Gretchen Jones benefit from apprenticeships (with Jess Beebe of Linea and Elizabeth Dye respectively). And some, in a grand DIY Portland tradition, will be completely self-taught like Diana Lang. There is one other place to look, a school that has educated Portland designers like Church & State’s Nathaniel Crissman and has benefited from instructors like designer Anna Cohen. The Art Institute of Portland showcases the work of its student designers in a fashion show entitled “The Fine Art of Fashion” this Sunday at the Portland Art Museum.
design: Kelcey Stockey. photo: Kimberli Ransom
This show, like the apparel program under Sue Bonde, has grown and flourished in recent years. From a first show nine years ago with five designers showing 15 garments total, the Art Institute’s annual fashion show to benefit its Creative Arts Scholarship Fund this year features 66 designers showing 170 looks including 25 seniors showing final collections. And the students don’t just show their work, they produce the show as well.
We were excited about some of the sophisticated ideas coming out of the program. We liked Jessica Bobillot’s delicious smart wool jacket (she contrasts her tailored looks with organic felted pieces). Jeneane McSpadden, who showed that the Mercury’s Installations show, does refined dresses with fine details. Senior, Todd Templeman, who works at Nemo Design, is interestingly showing the same set of garments on each model in different combinations.
design: Andrew Vanzaten. photo: Kimberli Ransom
“The Fine Art of Fashion” goes down Sunday, June 17 at 7:30 (doors at 6:30) at The Portland Art Museum Kridel Grand Ballroom (1219 SW Park).
Tickets are available online at online at portlandartmuseum.org.
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