Over 350 members of the Pratt community and public buzzed around the airy, light-filled Grand Hall at Powerhouse Arts in Gowanus, Brooklyn, awaiting the start of Pratt Fashion’s much-anticipated 123rd annual runway show, referred to simply as “The Show.” The stylish event on May 3 showcased 180 looks from collections by 20 graduating seniors from the BFA Fashion Design program. The evening also celebrated Marni Creative Director Francesco Risso, this year’s recipient of the Pratt Fashion Visionary Award, in recognition of his remarkable impact on the fashion landscape and for inspiring the next generation of fashion designers. Guests from the Marni Group were in attendance to celebrate their colleague and Pratt’s graduating class. The event was covered by the media, including Vogue, Hypebeast, Paper, Fashionista, and The Daily Front Row.
Pratt Institute President Frances Bronet welcomed guests to an evening that offered a glimpse into what’s next in the fashion industry, emphasizing the importance of building a strong educational foundation through mentorship. “Pratt is proud to host the oldest fashion program in the country. This historical and powerful foundation grounds our students, and the education that they receive at Pratt guides them on successful trajectories,” said Bronet. “They can only reach such incredible heights with the mentorship of phenomenal faculty.”
Bronet expressed special gratitude toward Pratt Fashion Chair Jennifer Minniti, who has helmed the department for over a decade, and who is stepping down from her position at the end of this academic year. “I have served in this capacity for 13 years and it has been a joyful and rewarding experience,” said Minniti. “After a much needed and well-deserved sabbatical, I will return to teaching. I am looking forward to getting back into the classroom—because that is where the magic happens.”
Mark Holgate, U.S. fashion features director of Vogue, presented the Pratt Fashion Visionary Award to Marni Creative Director Francesco Risso. Risso, who was unable to attend in person, accepted his award via a prepared video and spoke fondly of a recent visit to Pratt’s campus to review student collections. “I had such a lovely day swirling around the corridors at Pratt experiencing such a beautiful commitment and creativity within students and teachers and professors,” said Risso. “I am humbled and I am deeply honored to be able to experience this.”
Then, the lights dimmed and the main event began. Models in brightly colored eyeshadows appeared one by one, walking to thumping music in handcrafted pieces by the next big names in fashion. Guests in the back rows stood up to glimpse the full glory of the looks as they passed. Showcasing an impressive variety, the designs ranged in styles, materials, and silhouettes.
Each student presented a collection composed of eight to 12 complete looks, including accessories and footwear. The designers who debuted their collections at “The Show” were, in presenting order: Shayna Block, Sean McGiveney, Nyta Brace, Junxuan Guo, Jeff Guangxhou Cai, Lu Luyao Tang, Scott Junjie Wang, Zoe Knaack, Anna Felton, Lavender Naduo Luo, Madison Newcombe, Dayeon Jeong, Malek Rasmussen, Shuyan (Jane) Jin, Jen Sohyun Park, Eiligh Orff, Isabelle Shin, Zhouyi Wang, Brendan Sheerin, and Emilio Pompetti.
The evening concluded with applause as Emilio Pompetti, BFA Fashion ’24, was announced this year’s recipient of the 2024 Christopher Hunte “On Point Award,” a $10,000 prize awarded to one graduating designer, named in memory of a beloved Pratt professor. Pompetti’s collection references their experience as an athlete by blending together sports iconography with feminine silhouettes and textiles.
Explore the first looks from each designer at this year’s runway show below.
