Fashion Design Seniors’ Capstone Collections Mark the Beginning of Outstanding Careers

Each spring, fashion design (FD) seniors at the Wilson College of Textiles have one final,  semester-long assignment: create a capstone collection. The main requirement? Build six cohesive head-to-toe looks.

These designers create everything from trendy, ready-to-wear collections to structural, avant-garde designs. The open-ended nature of the capstone course, Senior Fashion Design Studio, provides students the opportunity to explore and challenge their creative voice.  

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Inspiration from abroad 

Some fashion design students study abroad their junior year, traveling to areas rich with art and fashion like London or Florence. With unique course offerings like knitting and corsetry as well as proximity to events like Milan Fashion Week, studying abroad helps round out students’ technical education. 

For several of this year’s emerging designers, the Tuscan architecture, storied history and highly-acclaimed art museums were sources of inspiration. For others, the collection was a way to celebrate their heritage, weaving stories, traditions and culture into each design.

Tutto Scorre | Erin Kimmel 

A direct reflection of her time spent abroad, Erin Kimmel blended images of Italian summers with sheer, flowing fabrics and a color palette reminiscent of the sun setting over Tuscany. 

She also pulled inspiration from an internship with Studio Bruni, a fashion and marketing company in Florence, where she worked under the guidance of an industry mogul. 

“She worked for Gucci her whole life and even saw some of the first Versace shows. In my mind, this collection was kind of like a capsule closet of the woman I worked for,” Kimmel says.

The collection’s title, “Tutto Scorre,” translates to “everything flows,” and describes both the garments’ movement on the runway and Kimmel’s creative process. 

“I feel like everything changes once you get the materials and you see what works and what doesn’t; I had this cording from Scrap Exchange, and I just started playing with it, seeing what shapes I could make, and I ended up creating a brassiere to pair with the blazer I made.”

Bal du Liban | Mark Saber

Growing up in a family of tailors and seamstresses, completing a B.S. in fashion and textile design was a source of pride for Mark Saber’s parents. As a way to honor his family and those who came before him, Saber’s capstone collection paid homage to his Lebanese heritage. 

“Being Lebanese, I learned that Lebanese people really take pride in their culture and their fashion. It’s always been a big part of our history.”

After spending a summer in Paris interning with Lebanese atelier Rabih Kayrouz, Saber saw firsthand the process of creating a full collection, picking up inspiration for his own six looks along the way. 

“I really aligned with Kayrouz’s aesthetic and I loved the way he used volume and color,” he says. “I definitely took some inspiration from my internship with the bold colors he used.”  

While each garment’s details, such as the Tyrian purple fabric or thick, wool piping, have ties to Lebanon, Saber made sure to bring his own creative flair to each look. 

Exploring femininity

The Divine | Bella Reeves 

With a strong mother, three younger sisters and a tight-knit group of friends, Bella Reeves’ collection highlighted the women in her life. Working with timeless materials like silk charmeuse and bridal satins, as well as cowls and rosettes, she wanted her collection to exude elegance.

Reeves chose to use her friends as her models, centering the looks around each of their unique personalities. She says this helped guide her designs through the creative process.

“For example, one of my friends really exemplifies confidence, so her garment has a big, sheer drape, a fun rosette, a strappy heel and a lot of leg showing.” 

Initially accepted to the Wilson College as a textile design student with a portfolio of 2D artwork, Reeves’ story has been one of growth. After taking introductory studio design classes and finding her passion, she transferred into the fashion design concentration.

“I first learned how to sew in my freshman year of high school, but I really started sewing garments in college,” she says. “I didn’t even know what a dart was freshman year, and now I’ve made a whole collection.”  

Fated Empress | Sarah Do

Traditional, white dresses made of silk and satin are what most people think of when they imagine bridal wear. Sarah Do’s collection chose to push these boundaries with royal red hues, hand-placed embellishments and a variety of necklines and hemlines. 

“This collection is designed for brides who crave self-expression beyond traditional styles while emphasizing their feminine figure. They are undismayed by what people might whisper, in fact, they are excited to challenge the borders,” she writes in her artist’s statement. 

2025 Emerging Designers’ runway gallery