May 27, 2025

Pratt Fashion’s 124th annual runway show dazzled more than 400 members of the Pratt community and public at Powerhouse Arts in Gowanus, Brooklyn, on May 16. Excitement buzzed inside the historic and expansive hall as 30 graduating seniors of the BFA Fashion Design program showcased nearly 160 looks on the runway. The evening also honored London-based designer Nicholas Daley with this year’s Pratt Visionary Award, in recognition of his impactful blend of heritage, identity, and community-driven craftsmanship through his brand launched a decade ago. The event was covered by the media, including Vogue, MR Magazine, WWD, and Fashionista. 

Pratt Institute President Frances Bronet welcomed the audience and congratulated the students. She introduced GQ Global Editorial Director Will Welch who presented the Pratt Fashion Visionary Award to Daley. 

Daley thanked the Pratt community and his family, friends, and professional supporters. He reflected on his recent debut at the Met Gala, where singer/songwriter Leon Bridges wore a custom suit that he designed. Daley said that his three core values of “community, craftsmanship, and culture” are “distilled in my collections, my works, and my events,” and expressed gratitude for the people of Brooklyn, a place that has become like a second home to him. 

“I look forward to connecting with Pratt and the campus and working more closely if I’m able to bring more of my energy and experience to the next generation,” he said. 

Chairperson of Fashion Lisa Z. Morgan followed Daley to set the stage for the runway show, which marked her first as chair of the department. She described the effort and creativity that went into each collection and encouraged attendees to visit the Pratt Shows: Design on Pratt’s campus, where “you can view, in proximity, the processes behind the outcomes, and get close to the stitches, the ideas, and the proposals materialized through fabric. The Design Show and the Fashion Show are sister shows, and in dialogue amplify the different modalities of fashion and fashion presentation as the profoundly powerful tool of cultural communication we know it to be.”

A display of intricately crafted garments laid out on a white surface. On the left is a sheer cream-colored corset featuring red ribbon and a bold red applique in the shape of a crying theatrical mask. In the center, red cords and sheer panels give the piece a sculptural, deconstructed look. To the right is a bright pink, sleeveless top made from loosely woven fibers, with visible threads and irregular textures suggesting an experimental, handmade construction. At the top, partially visible, is a third garment—an ornate, gold and black brocade corset with chain-like fringe at the bottom. A few printed cards or labels are visible in the background.
Student work on display at the Design Show
A pair of black high-heeled shoes with braided leather trim and delicate gold chain accents on display atop a white table. To the left, a teal box holds a stack of printed business cards. Scattered across the table are various small design samples and textile experiments, including a bunch of smooth wooden beads, swatches of black lace and white wool, braided cords, and embroidered floral motifs. Blurred figures in dark clothing and exhibition panels are visible in the background, suggesting the setting is a student or designer showcase.
Students designed and styled each look
A trio of avant-garde garments hang on wooden hangers from a metal display structure at a fashion exhibition. In the foreground on the right, a vibrant crochet dress features bold, textured patterns in purple, teal, white, and blue yarns, with floral-like motifs and open-stitch details. To the left, a translucent beige bodysuit with a pointed hem and sheer long sleeves is layered over a darker fabric and finished with a delicate collar. At the center, a sleeveless dress made of sheer golden-yellow fabric is adorned with soft blue embellishments and a sculptural blue ruffle cascading down the front. Exhibition boards, lighting, and attendees are visible in the softly blurred background.
Visitors could examine the different looks of each collection
A close-up view of a spiral-bound fashion design sketchbook held open on a white table. A person wearing a denim jacket gently lifts the top page, which features detailed dress sketches over a blue and red grid background, accompanied by handwritten notes. The dresses vary in silhouette and feature elements like pleats, smocking, and texture variations. The page underneath shows cut-out illustrations of runway-style fashion figures. In the background, textile samples in shades of brown, gold, and cream are laid out on the table, partially out of focus.
An in-depth view of a student’s design process

A burst of birdsong came through the speakers as the first models appeared, walking the runway in an impressive range of colors, textures, materials, techniques, and styles. The audience marveled as the looks came down the runway and each student brought highly specific ideas to life. From different proposals for healing to envisioning futuristic dreamscapes and exploring family lineages, the collections boldly asserted unique creative perspectives.  

Each student presented a collection composed of a minimum of five complete looks, including accessories and footwear. The designers who debuted their collections at the show were, in presenting order: Haeone Son, Ava Truckenbrod, Griselda Peña Candelario, Bora Erden, Georgia James, Yalei Fang, Ruoshui Wang, Grace-Marie Cooney, Bel Davies, Andy Yi, Yunru Huang, Xin Gu, Isabella Pedrero, Aries Huilin Zeng, Christen Lee, Kylei Casmire, Phoebe Mang, hiosuthe, Lillian Krueger, Xinjun Lu, Jiahe Heidi Du, Zhengyu Zhou, Joy Qiu, Jude Mikulencak, Noah Luca Weisberg, Henry Hitchcock, Lily Lonigan, Amelia Yetter, Angie Yutong Zhou, and Kalen Whitehead.

On Monday, May 19, Haeone Son was announced as the recipient of the 2025 Christopher Hunte “On Point Award,” a $10,000 prize awarded to one graduating designer, named in memory of a beloved Pratt professor. Son’s self-dyed garments draw on dark earth tones and reference the improvisational nature of jazz. 

Explore the first looks from each designer’s collection at this year’s runway show below.

A composite image showing five models walking a fashion runway against a backdrop of graffiti-covered brick walls and tall windows. From left to right: The first model wears a dark green button-up top with a distressed texture and olive green pants, paired with black shoes. The second model wears a white collared shirt with textured details, white cut-off shorts, and sheer cream fabric panels trailing from the waist. They complete the look with black cowboy boots and a silver belt. The third model wears a ruched light green top under a gray pinstripe corset vest, paired with a flowing deep purple satin skirt. The fourth model wears a draped, cream-toned dress with an asymmetrical silhouette and a layered, cowl-neck design in soft, textured fabrics. The fifth model wears a striking off-the-shoulder corset dress with a lavender bodice and cream sleeves and skirt, adorned with floral embroidery and lace-up details. The look is paired with brown ankle boots and lilac socks.
(Left to right) Looks by: Haeone Son, Griselda Peña Candelario, Georgia James, Ruoshui Wang, Bel Davies (Runway photos by Fernando Colon)
A collage of five runway models walking at a fashion show, with an urban, graffiti-covered backdrop. From left to right: The first model wears a sheer, flowing pale blue dress with layered chiffon and ribbon-like shoulder ties, paired with pastel tie-dye slippers. The second model wears a white crop top and dark mini skirt under a long, olive green coat with a belt. The outfit is completed with brown boots and a sleek hairstyle. The third model showcases a bold, cropped bomber jacket in black, yellow, and animal print with sculptural padded elements on the sleeves. It’s paired with an asymmetrical, deconstructed denim skirt featuring yellow stitching and raw edges, and tall, glittery gold boots. The fourth model wears a cream-colored midi dress with a wide, angular collar and cinched waist, accessorized with lace gloves and ankle socks paired with black Mary Jane-style shoes. The fifth model wears an off-the-shoulder white cropped tee with green gothic text, styled with a dramatic floor-length skirt made of richly patterned floral fabrics in a patchwork style. The look is completed with chunky sandals.
(Left to right) Looks by: Yunru Huang, Isabella Pedrero, Christen Lee, Phoebe Mang, Lillian Krueger (Runway photos by Fernando Colon)
A lineup of five models walking the runway in an eclectic, experimental fashion collection, set against a graffiti-covered brick backdrop. From left to right: The first model wears a structured grey military-style coat with black buttons and straps, layered over glossy black latex and thigh-high black patent leather boots with a red bow accent. A black military cap and braided pigtails complete the look. The second model wears a sculptural, charcoal grey strapless dress with dramatic ballooned ruching, a leather bodice, and black lace-up cutout boots. The third model wears a crisp, button-down white shirt paired with playful, cartoon-print boxer shorts and red mesh athletic shorts slouched at the knees. Beige socks, sport sandals, and a paper-wrapped book add to the conceptual styling. The fourth model wears a sleeveless grey mini dress with cascading, petal-like layers and a black leather yoke. Sheer white pants peek out beneath the hem, paired with metallic silver sneakers. The fifth model wears a deep navy blue knit dress with asymmetrical, fuzzy-textured panels that wrap around the body. The dress features a side slit and is styled with black fuzzy heels.
(Left to right) Looks by: Jiahe Heidi Du, Joy Qiu, Noah Luca Weisberg, Lily Lonigan, Angie Yutong Zhou
Five models walk a fashion show runway, each wearing avant-garde garments in muted and vibrant tones, with a graffiti-covered wall in the background. From left to right: The first model wears an asymmetrical red and black sleeveless tunic with side button detailing, layered over wide-leg black pants featuring a mottled silver pattern. The second model wears a sheer one-shoulder mini dress made from layered peach and tangerine organza, paired with color-blocked red and orange shoes. The third model wears a dramatic sleeveless dress in bright chartreuse with gray trim and a thigh-high slit, detailed with printed elements and gathered knots. The look is styled with white socks and black flats. The fourth model wears a tailored gray plaid ensemble featuring a cut-out top with a collar and a buttoned high-waisted skirt. A blue pendant necklace adds contrast to the sharp structure. The fifth model wears a black sculptural halter-neck dress with a voluminous, architectural silhouette and high slits, revealing white fabric lining and black ankle boots.
(Left to right) Looks by: Ava Truckenbrod, Bora Erden, Yalei Fang, Grace-Marie Cooney, Andy Yi
The first model wears an oversized blue plaid button-up coat with exaggerated sleeves and dropped shoulders, paired with navy pants and black shoes. The second model is dressed in a voluminous gray and blue plaid hooded pullover with long sleeves, styled over flowing cobalt blue pants. The hood is up, partially obscuring the model’s face. The third model wears a sheer, lemon yellow halter dress with a deep front cutout and cascading ruffle accents along the hem. The fluid fabric moves delicately with each step. The fourth model wears a shimmering charcoal-gray, form-fitting dress with subtle cut-outs and a sculptural draped panel that extends from the shoulders down the back. Open-toed black heels complete the look. The fifth model wears a crisp white ensemble featuring an asymmetrical, off-the-shoulder top with gathered detailing and layered fabric, paired with a white skirt and sneakers. One shoulder is adorned with a pearl accent.
(Left to right) Looks by: Xin Gu, Aries Huilin Zeng, Kylei Casmire, hiosuthe, Xinjun Lu
The first model wears a draped, charcoal gray knit ensemble with a voluminous silhouette, paired with cropped shorts, gray socks, black loafers, and a loosely tied pink gingham scarf. The second model wears a structured double-breasted gray jacket with exaggerated peplum-like layers, styled over pinstripe shorts. Sheer black knee-high socks and pointed-toe heels complete the look. The third model wears a muted brown long-sleeve dress with a high collar and oversized keyhole pendant necklace. The look is styled with black boots for a grounded, vintage feel. The fourth model wears a cream knit sweater embroidered with cursive script and the phrase “PARADE OF LOVE,” paired with shiny blue pants and a bonnet-style plaid hood. Brown trim on the sweater cuffs adds a handmade touch. The fifth model wears a minimalist white knit mini dress with a slight flare at the hem, trimmed in red. It’s paired with tall maroon boots, giving a clean and youthful finish.
(Left to right) Looks by: Zhengyu Zhou, Jude Mikulencak, Henry Hitchcock, Amelia Yetter, Kalen Whitehead