From Classroom to Catwalk: The Department of Art and Design Presents L’Atelier Montclair: Threaded Awakening

Montclair State University’s Department of Art and Design proudly celebrated the return of its annual fashion show, L’Atelier Montclair: Threaded Awakening, on May 1, 2025. This year’s showcase brought a bold fusion of creativity, innovation, and collaboration to the runway, highlighting the exceptional work of student designers from the Fashion Design and Merchandising Program.

Threaded Awakening drew inspiration from the refined elegance of couture ateliers and the raw, transformative power of textile design. Featuring 99 designers and more than 60 original looks, the show highlighted garments meticulously crafted by students across various studio courses. Each segment corresponded to a specific course in the fashion design curriculum including ARTX 120: Introduction to Apparel Construction, ARTX 226: Intermediate Apparel Construction, ARTX 332: Flat Pattern, and ARTX 422: Advanced Fashion Design. The show also featured collections from independent designers, each presenting a distinctive vision and unique voice. Together, these segments demonstrated a clear progression of technical skills and creative exploration from the student designers.

Under the expert guidance of faculty members Professor Chae, Professor Cuffee, Professor Harriman, Professor Castillo, Professor Snyder-Gallagher, and Professor DeMoya, students explored bold ideas in identity, technique, and materiality. Professor DeMoya led the overall production of the event in collaboration with the ARTX400 Fashion Show Promotion class.

The ARTX400 team played a critical role in developing and executing the event, managing everything from branding and outreach to backstage coordination. The student production team included: Alexis Cajas, Zamir Dalton, Dy’Aasia De Vina, Nelson Dela Cruz, Natalie Escobar, Sean Gadiore, Arriana Johnson, India Johnson, Fabiana Munoz, Katherine Narvaez, Laisha Perez, Jealyne Ramos, Fernando Rodriguez, and Sire Rosado.

Held in Presentation Hall at the School of Communication and Media, the event was also live-streamed, offering a seamless viewing experience for both in-person attendees and virtual audiences thanks to the continued partnership with the School of Communication and Media.

For the first time, the event also featured a custom sticker collection showcasing illustrations by students in the Fashion Illustration class, along with a commemorative set of four postcards. A Lookbook photoshoot was completed in advance of the show, capturing each look with professional styling and photography.

Adding another dynamic layer to the evening, students from the John J. Cali School of Music composed original tracks for each segment of the show, ensuring every collection had its own distinct energy and rhythm. The set design featured a stunning, oversized yarn sculpture created with a custom crochet technique using more than 1,000 yards of yarn, serving as a striking visual centerpiece on stage.

The show also included a juried component, with distinguished judges Brian Sanchez, Kika Rocha, and Shirley Gomez selecting standout designs and recognizing student achievements in innovation and craftsmanship.

L’Atelier Montclair: Threaded Awakening was a resounding success and an inspiring night of artistry, collaboration, and celebration that underscored the vision and talent emerging from Montclair State University’s Fashion Design and Merchandising Program.