For more than eight decades, Stephens College has used the runway as a platform for emerging designers. On April 25, that tradition continued with the 82nd annual The Collections fashion show, held in Windsor Auditorium with three performances throughout the day.
The annual show serves as a final showcase of the fashion design students’ work over the academic year, featuring a curated selection of garments, including seven senior collections. Before reaching the runway, each piece is evaluated by a jury of selection, a panel of industry professionals who review the work and decide which designs are presented.
This year’s theme, “Interwoven,” explored fashion as a reflection of shared experiences. The show’s student-led committees were also encouraged to think about how garments carry memory, identity, and connection, translating those ideas into the overall experience. The result was a runway that balanced structure and fluidity, as well as nostalgia and modernity.
Senior designer Lena Hunziker explored the theme through her perspective on sport and identity.
Originally from Lyss, Switzerland, Hunziker drew from her experience as both an athlete and designer, creating a collection that blends architectural structure with softer, more fluid elements.
“I am driven to create pieces that reflect strength, movement, and self-expression,” she said. Her work explores the duality of masculine power and feminine energy, aiming to empower female athletes through garments that emphasize confidence and individuality.
For Sofia Schaefer Ramos, the runway became a reflection of cultural memory and sport. A former student-athlete who played soccer at Stephens, Ramos brings an authentic connection to the game that informs her design perspective. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Ramos developed Penta, a gender-neutral collection inspired by football and its role in shaping identity and community. The collection incorporates upcycled football jerseys, reworked into high-end streetwear through a hands-on design process.
“Football was always a moment of bonding, celebration, and shared identity,” Ramos said, referencing both her upbringing and the layered meaning behind the collection’s name.
Senior designer Arin-Christina Hawk drew from a different set of influences, blending the jazz culture of the Harlem Renaissance with the urban style of 1970s Chicago. Inspired by her family’s musical background, Hawk’s collection uses bold color and pattern to reinterpret the “modern dandy,” while highlighting the influence of Black American art and expression. “My collection pays homage to my family’s musical background and my experience growing up in the city,” she said.
Across the runway, collections reflected a range of perspectives, each rooted in personal stories while still connecting to the overall theme. The show featured student models, creating a strong sense of community and support throughout the production.
The Collections is designed to mirror professional industry standards, with students taking on roles beyond design, including production, casting, and media. The show itself is largely student-led, offering hands-on experience in producing a large-scale runway event.
Backstage, the morning was spent running through choreography while steaming garments and making final adjustments, reflecting the level of detail behind each collection. As showtime approached, the atmosphere shifted from focused preparation to anticipation. The first walk down the runway remained the most nerve-racking, but with each performance, the energy built, becoming louder, more confident, and more celebratory as designers watched their work come to life.
The impact of the program extends beyond the runway. Recent graduate Claire Johnson was awarded the Paris American Academy Couture Award at the FGI Dallas Scholarship Competition, earning a $10,000 scholarship to study in Paris. Achievements like this highlight the opportunities available to Stephens designers as they transition into the industry.
As the final show concluded, the runway shifted from presentation to transition. For many of the senior designers, The Collections marks the end of their academic work and the beginning of their careers in fashion. Alumni of the program have seen global success across design, product development, styling, and brand leadership, continuing the show’s legacy far beyond the Stephens campus.
While each year introduces new voices and perspectives, the purpose of The Collections remains consistent: to offer a platform for emerging designers to turn their ideas into real garments and share those fashions — and their stories — with an audience.
