Claire Xiaojing Gao, The Coral Revelation, 2026

I chose coral bleaching as my theme to raise awareness about environmental issues. Seeing bleached coral specimens at the museum during summer vacation deeply moved me. Through this collection, I aim to convey that “despair” is not the end—it is the beginning of “action.” I investigate ocean fluidity and pollution, translate these dualities through water marbling, digital printing, puff pigment through silkscreen, and 3D printed elements evoking chemical waste. Fringed details and wool felting introduce decay and movement. At the same time, I use the vibrant colors of digital printing and wool felt to capture the vitality of coral. Coral bleaching serves as nature’s warning signal and a clarion call to humanity. I wish to demonstrate the possibility of humans and nature coexisting in harmony. Human hands can become the new “symbiotic algae” for coral polyps. Designers can serve as ‘tailors’ bridging nature and humanity, employing more eco-friendly and sustainable techniques to mend fractures—creating “beautiful” garments without plundering the natural world.

The Design Show

The Design Show features garments, accessories, lookbooks, fragrances, and portfolio work, offering visitors an opportunity to engage with both the finished collections and the creative processes behind them. Together, these presentations reveal the breadth of ideas, approaches, and perspectives that define the Fashion Design Class of 2026.

The work on view reflects the creativity, rigor, and vision of a new generation of designers shaping the future of fashion through thoughtful and engaged practice.