A few weeks ago, in a spacious white tent on the new back lot of the California College of the Arts (CCA) San Francisco campus, the 2014 graduates of the Fashion Design program showcased their final thesis collections during a fashion show juried by industry professionals from companies such as North Face, Erica Tanov and, of course, LS&Co.
As one of the sponsors of the event, LS&Co.’s Paul Dillinger, head of global product innovation, helped kick off the show with some opening remarks citing the importance of sustainability and innovation to design, and especially to LS&Co.
The students definitely had the innovation part down. The 19 designers each sent several looks down the runway, and their collections were anything but ho-hum, with the winning collection being an exaggerated take on jerseys and other sportswear in nontraditional fabrics such as neoprene. Overall, the looks offered something for everyone, ranging from day to evening, athletic to haute couture, men’s to women’s, and adults to children (the whimsical peek-a-boo collection for tots was a crowd favorite). Each collection had its own soundtrack and unique sense of style, and without exception, all were well-crafted.
This is the second year that LS&Co. has been a lead sponsor of the show, and it’s just one of the many ways that we partner with CCA. We also host an intern at the Eureka Lab and provide $25,000 scholarships to 10 students in their junior year who exhibit exceptional talent and commitment to our design pillars of craftsmanship, sustainability and innovation. In addition, Paul is a guest lecturer and senior project juror — and occasional tour guide. As he shared with the students who visited Levi’s® Plaza last month, the interaction between LS&Co. and CCA is a win-win because “this kind of dialogue has the potential to spark the next big idea.”
Read More: Check out additional coverage of the fashion show in 7×7 magazine and SF Gate.
