Kent State University news and archive

Kent State School of Fashion to induct Fern Mallis into Fashion Hall of Fame

The Kent State University School of Fashion will induct Fern Mallis into its Fashion Hall of Fame during its annual Fashion Week celebrations in May 2026. Often referred to as the “Godmother of Fashion Week,” Mallis is widely credited with transforming New York Fashion Week into a globally recognised fashion industry platform. During her...

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Garment District Alliance launches fifth year of business development collaborative program

The Garment District Alliance (GDA), a nonprofit organization, has launched the fifth year of its Business Development Collaborative (BDC), a program created to help strengthen the competitiveness of local businesses, encourage creativity, attract new audiences, and showcase the diverse industries that shape the district. In support of this...

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IFA x KSU show 2024: Battle of Versailles inspires international fashion students

Fashion institutions International Fashion Academy Paris (IFA Paris) and the School of Fashion at Kent State University (KSU) have held their third annual collaborative fashion show in New York City. In a show entitled ‘Scene Makers’, this year's young designers from both schools who presented their creations on the runway were inspired by the...

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Kent State University/IFA Paris continue their runway partnership, Jeremy Scott crowns Supima winner

Kent State University and IFA Paris (International Academy of Fashion) teamed up again to share the runway and present an edit of their respective students’ collections during New York Fashion Week. The show which spotlit the creativity of 20 designers across 40 looks was staged at Lightbox NYC, an intimate yet hi-tech space known for producing...

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Kent State University’s School of Fashion presents Class of 23 Portfolio Showcase

On the afternoon of May 18, the School of Fashion at Kent State University held its annual fashion portfolio presentation event at its NYC campus located in Manhattan’s garment district. The Portfolio Showcase which assembles the cream of the crop of design students from the graduating cohort of 2023 is designed to foster connections between...

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Kent State School of Fashion to add Omar Salam to its hall of fame

US educational institution Kent State School of Fashion at Kent State University (KSU) in Kent, Ohio has named Omar Salam, a fashion designer and the founder and creative director of fashion house Sukeina, inductee of its fashion hall of fame. The Kent State School of Fashion award celebrates “the outstanding contributions made to fashion by an...

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Paris fashion school IFA joins Kent State University and the UN for unique NYFW show

Once upon a time designers were secretive with fellow designers, now they share their knowledge freely. Just this week Marc Jacobs joined Kim Jones on the runway to celebrate the results of their successful collaboration on the Fendi show presented during NYFW. Jean Paul Gaultier has welcomed in Olivier Rousteing and luxury outerwear brand...

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Spotlight on 5 Kent State University’s 2021 fashion graduates

For the second year, the Fashion School of Kent State University has been unable to hold its Portfolio Showcase event in NYC where invited members of industry, particularly those hiring, get to view a selection of work and meet the graduating designers. Instead the school has released its second Digital Showcase Magazine and, while the school...

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Legacy and mission bring Kenneth Cole and Kent State University together

Kent State University will host a fireside chat this Friday between visionary global fashion designer and activist, Kenneth Cole, and director and professor of Kent State’s School of Fashion, Louise Valentine. The topic of conversation will be “Building a Global Fashion Brand, On Purpose.” Cole has been named the Kent State University School of...

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News|INTERVIEW

Kent State’s plan to ensure graduate portfolios seen by industry

For the past six years, Kent State University’s School of Fashion has invited a selection of its graduates to present their work to alumni and industry leaders in a special portfolio showcase held at the school’s NYC Studio. Each spring, a jury made up of industry alumni visits the school to review the portfolios of the senior design class and...

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COVID-19 effect on fashion’s graduating Class of 2020

Fashion students have been left reeling as the coronavirus shuts down their schools and wipes out all promise of graduate fashion shows and portfolio presentation events. As a snapshot of the larger global picture, FashionUnited interviews four students from Ohio’s Kent State University whose sense of anticlimax has replaced the camaraderie...

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Fashion internships 101, an expert’s 5 tips for success

The competition for those entering the fashion industry is fiercer than ever, and graduates often find to their dismay that they are still expected to intern when what they really need is a job. Preparing students to get the most from their internship opportunities is the focus of a Kent State University event in which Carla Carstens, founder of...