A real-life mosaic unfolded on the fifth floor of the University Center during the AAS Fashion Graduate Showcase. Titled “MOSAIC: PERSONAL STORIES, COLLECTIVE EFFORT,” the installation featured the works of December graduates from the AAS Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing programs and celebrated individuality and collaboration in equal measure. 

Occuring on Dec. 10 and directed by Parsons professors Geoffrey Gertz and Tiffany Webber, UC classrooms 502 and 503 were transformed into curated spaces filled with mannequins, immersive collages, and projected videos. Across the hall in UC 504, fashion marketing graduates presented sleek digital portfolios and conceptual campaigns that reimagined brand narratives, emphasizing the strategic side of fashion. Connecting these spaces was the Social Justice Hub, where Professor Kaz Senju orchestrated a live lookbook photoshoot. 

The theme of “Mosaic” — coined by the fashion marketing students — was split into three categories: culture, identity, and nostalgia. The theme symbolized how each graduate’s unique work contributed to a unified whole. “We were thinking about how everyone here has a story to tell. We are individuals, but we come together as a unit to celebrate each other. That’s really what matters,” Tyler Fontanez said, a fashion marketing student. 

Fashion design student Jaeyoung Kang drew inspiration from his favorite color, khaki, and his mandatory military service in South Korea. “Khaki is known under the green umbrella in Korea,” he explained. “I wanted to embrace the color khaki and utilize different shades of green.” His designs reflected a transformation of his military experience through camouflage and earthy tones. One of his looks featured a glossy, quilted open-back top with adjustable buckle fastenings and layered mesh trousers, embodying a refined utilitarian look. 

Noe Cadiente, another fashion design student, also infused green into her collection, reinterpreting Filipino traditions through a modern lens. Drawing from traditional Filipino clothing such as the Baro’t Saya and Terno, she sought to dismantle stereotypes. “We’re known for pageantry and prim-and-proper styles. I wanted to break that stereotype and redefine what it means to be Filipina,” she shared, based on her childhood in the Philippines and its agricultural roots.  

For fashion design student Cicely Barber, denim became the medium for familial nostalgia. “The inspiration behind the entire collection was my family, specifically the men and the pivotal roles they played in my life,” she explained, paying tribute to her cousins, uncles, and grandfather who shaped her memories of ‘90s grunge culture growing up in Chicago. One of her designs, a denim dress with a dramatic off-the-shoulder neckline and deep silhouette, was crafted with varying shades of blue and denim textures.

Fashion marketing student Zoe Wang ventured into the intersection of freedom and femininity. In addition to her branding and marketing portfolio centered around Chanel, she showcased a lingerie set designed for her personal brand Zifan, manufactured in Italy. The prototype, inspired by wings, symbolized the freedom to fly. “I always want to make women feel very beautiful, confident, and attractive about themselves,” she said. 

Fashion design student Camillia Zachary modeled her own creation during the installation, channeling the whimsical worlds of fantasy, fairy tales, and Barbie, infused with her passion for ballet. “I want people to look at it, have fun, to dream, and to imagine,” she said.

Reflecting on the event, Zachery said, “Just like a mosaic has individual pieces, when you step back, you see everything forms one big picture … and it’s one collective, wonderful show.”