Albright College SS25 runway show at New York Fashion Week in fall 2024 

BY PATRICIA ANN PARENTI

Albright College Fashion Department had a NYFW show with some of its graduates and present students at the prestigious 3 West Club in the heart of midtown Manhattan.  The show took place on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 7 PM in the Grand Ballroom. Albright College is located in Reading, PA and was founded in 1856 . The college offers hands-on-instruction to ensure graduates are skilled in technology and are ready to take on the fashion industry.  The show is produced by former graduate, Scott French of Very New York PR, www.verynewyork.com.

This fashion show had 9 collections running down the runway by 9 different designers showing their point of view. The end of the show had the designers walk down the runway with one of the models wearing an outfit they created.  As an industry professional for many years, I thought the clothes were extremely wearable/saleable. Nothing really costume like this season compared to other seasons that I have seen this show. 

I’m just going to touch on some of the student designers:

 1. Mary Quinn, a fashion design major graduated in 2024. Her creations were girly and feminine with use of ruffels, bows and floral prints. 

2. Michelle Nguyen, a fashion designer from the class of 2024 and comes from a family that had sewing factories so she already had great skills to start with. Her fashions used gingham and plaid fabrics in styles that had oversized treatments.

3. Truc Phuong HA majored in business administration and fashion and is a graduate of the class of 2024. She was influenced to go into fashion by a vacation to Vietnam. Her designs consist of modular styles that have pieces that can be attached or detached.

4. Abby Thomas-Ridgway, majored in Fashion Design and Merchandising and is a graduate of the class of 2024. She started to sew at age 12 and has earned many awards along the way. Her choice of fabric was eyelet in her collections for the show. Her style is ladylike.

5. Lydia (Johnson) Simone graduated in 2017 with a degree in in Fashion Design and Merchandising. She learned sewing at age 6 from her grandmother. Her collection was all about vibrant colors in a swimwear collection.

6. Felicia Oyekola is in the class of 2024 and majored in Fashion Design. Her collection was inspired by a poem called “Phenomenal Women and the Yoruba” in Nigerian culture. The styles she created are meant to represent her definition of a phenomenal woman.

7. Kamiah Jean is in the class of 2024 and majoring in Fashion Design. She is the Head Director of the college’s African American Society Fashion Show. Her clothes consisted of lots of body suits with sculptural cages over them as shown in my photo.

8. Mia Rezza is in the class of 2024 majoring in Fashion Design.  She wants to by a bridal designer with her own boutique. Her creations were for the modern bride. The emphasis of her styles had interest to draw your eye up towards the neck.

9. Stephanie Vargas Hemmings is from the class of 2022 and majored in Fashion Design. She loved fashion at a young age which prompted her to study sewing and manufacturing at Reading Muhlenberg Career and Tec Center. Her collection consists of lots of bustiers with skirts and evening gowns/coats.

For more information on Albright college and its fashion program www.albright.edu.

PATRICIA ANN PARENTI