Sustaining Traditions And Dreaming of Futures
As a small group of students gathered to plan Colorado College’s 2025 Fashion Show, they discussed the future of fashion and the meaning of futurism. At the next meeting, Ashanty Garcia ’27 asked to share a statement she had written.
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Futurism in art is more than an aesthetic movement. It’s an act of resistance, vision, and transformation. By imagining radical possibilities, artists challenge oppressive systems, push the boundaries of the present, and create blueprints for an alternative future.
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Garcia, who would take over the leadership of the Sustainable Fashion Club after founder Nathalie San Fratello graduated in 2025, inspired the group with her vision. It provided a broader context for the theme of the 2025 show: “Dreamspace: Futures of Fashion."
The Fashion Show, a tradition that was first launched in 2004, has been thriving since its revival four years ago. Originally organized by Colorado College Student Government Association and the Colorado College Sewing Club, the show ran until around 2011 before fading from formal documentation. When San Fratello arrived as a first-year student, she reintroduced the show in a student-led effort. Today, the show has a permanent home in the Arts and Crafts program, with support from Rebecca Parker, Arts and Crafts Director, though it remains a student-led endeavor.
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We’re not a fashion design school, and these students aren’t going to school specifically for fashion. But this show speaks to the liberal arts education. Students can dive into things they love. They can take time to explore and have space to find those connections to their passions at a really high level.
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The most recent fashion show featured collections from 18 student designers as well as work from visiting artist, Kiwi Phong Nguyen. Nearly 300 attendees experienced the immersive showcase that spanned multiple disciplines with contributions from across the campus community.
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We worked with many academic and student groups. DanSix from Theater and Dance was involved. The Art Department's Graphics Research Lab worked with us, we worked with The Press at CC for promotional materials, and B-Side Collective created amazing liquid visuals that were a live performance using overhead projectors with liquid dye and water.
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Sustainability remains a core focus of the fashion show, from the materials used by the designers to the creative process itself. The show emphasizes upcycling, slow fashion, and experimentation with ethical approaches to clothing.
The show continues to grow in scope and professionalism, attracting hundreds of attendees each year. For the students involved, it’s both a creative outlet and a community-building experience.
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Students aren’t afraid to try new things, to put their ideas out there, and support each other in the process. That energy is what makes the fashion show so special.
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