text: Academy of Art University wow at NYFW show – Grace Icons
  New York Fashion Week is a fall rite of passage for designers, buyers, fashion collectors, the media and the fashion-forward public. This year, the Academy of Art University's School of Fashion debuted collections from ten recent graduates in their BFA and MFA programs.
  The Academy of Art University, located in the SoMa district in San Francisco, is a large and privately-owned art and design school with a history that spans decades. It currently offers associates, bachelor's and master's degrees in over twenty subjects, with offerings in traditional classroom settings as well as online. Founded in 1929, the university began participating in Fashion Week in 2005.
  Fashion Week, which spans seven to nine days in September, is a springboard to editorial and commercial recognition for designers and the Academy of Art University grads splashed on the scene with seven collections in all; five womenswear and two menswear collections and two collaborations. The burgeoning designers, whose backgrounds are as varied as the styles, silhouettes and techniques they employed, were well-received by the audience, which included Ms. J Alexander from America's Next Top Model and Sara Kozlowski, a director at CFDA.
  Coursework at the Academy of Art University prepared its' grads thoroughly for NYFW, with it's commitment to the study of art and design that cultivates students' own styles and creative aspirations. It also taps into the lifestyles and dynamics of the surrounding community, providing students with myriad opportunities to experience and be a part of the cultural landscape.
  Currently, the university has just over 9,000 students enrolled in their undergraduate and graduate programs. Alumni of the school overwhelming work in the arts and design fields and university staff includes career artists and designers whose professional experience lends credence and authentic acumen to their instruction.
  Of the ten grads who showcased lines at NYFW, which ranged from PVC and vinyl separates to embroidered details to samurai-inspired pieces, it will be exciting to see what direction their fledgling fashion careers take.