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Talent Takes the Runway

On Friday, May 1st, the 2026 Awards Night Annual Fashion Show showcased an evening of exceptional student design. The show featured 171 looks by 52 designers, selected by a panel of industry critics and jurors. Collections and single-garment submissions spanned every corner of fashion – from childrenswear and knitwear to avant-garde and streetwear.

“The Class of 2026 demonstrates an impressive commitment to both innovation and responsibility,” said Mourad Krifa, Ph.D., director of the School of Fashion Design and Merchandising. “From accessible design to sustainability, their work reflects a deep awareness of how fashion can serve a broader purpose while maintaining a strong creative voice.”

The Annual Fashion Show is led each year by a student production team that manages every facet of the event. This year's senior co-producers were Ryan Gibson and Ana Beatriz Fonseca, with faculty co-directors Joanne Arnett and Sue Yoder guiding the process. The 2025–2026 designers-in-residence – Lamont Holland, senior designer at UNTUCKit, and Lauren Grover, senior designer at Ralph Lauren – worked alongside students throughout the year to refine their collections and garments.

Following the runway presentation, the highly anticipated awards ceremony recognized outstanding achievement across the following categories:

• Best in Show Award - Talia Fiscante
  Sponsored by Dr. Rodney J. & Mrs. Anne M. Williams
• Celebration Award (two awards) – Lauren Turner and Emily Cranston
  Sponsored by Ms. Carol Keller and Regina Eisenberg
• Construction Technique Award – Arabella Hammerich
  Sponsored by Stephanie Danes Smith in memory of William J. (Bill) Smith
• Fashion Show Management Award (two awards) – Ryan Gibson and Ana Beatriz Fonseca
  Sponsored by Linda Harper and Gary Brahler
• Innovation Award – Drea Favorito
  Sponsored by Randy J. Goodman and Beth Wilson
• Knitwear Award – Adelynn Prushing
  Sponsored by Mirta Gonzalez Prior and Tom Prior
• Market Ready Award – Sanghyun Park
  Sponsored by Janet and David Dix
• Niche Market Award – Nic Willingham
  Sponsored by Janet and David Dix
• Special Occasions Award – Arabella Hammerich
  Sponsored by Regina Eisenberg
• Student's Choice Award – Eduarda Candeo
  Sponsored by Stephanie Danes Smith in memory of Dorothy Timko Danes
• Sustainable Design Award – Catherine MacGregor
  Sponsored by Alice Melsher, UpScaleIT
• TechStyle LAB Award – Ash Welch
  Sponsored by Ken Robinson
• Universal Design Award – Ethan Griffin
  Sponsored by Goodman Real Estate Services Group LLC

Earlier on Friday, the 2026 Hall of Fame Inductee, Fern Mallis, delivered a free public lecture in Rockwell Hall, sharing her experiences and insights with Kent State students, industry guests and members of the public.  Mallis emphasized the importance of presence and connection. “You’ve got to show up,” she said. “How do you think you become successful in business? You show up. You go to these places. You meet people. You see people — eye to eye, not on a 3-inch screen.”

Hall of Fame Gala: An Evening to Remember

The week reached its pinnacle on Saturday, May 2nd, with the sold-out 2026 Fashion Hall of Fame.The gala honored industry icon Fern Mallis with induction into the Kent State School of Fashion Hall of Fame.

Mallis, known as the “Godmother of fashion,” is widely recognized as the creator of New York Fashion Week in its current form and has spent decades as one of the most influential figures in the American fashion industry. Her induction added her name to a distinguished list of previous Hall of Fame honorees that includes Kenneth Cole, Oscar de la Renta, Josie Natori, Dame Zandra Rhodes, Dana Buchman, Leonardo Ferragamo, Donald J Pliner, Omar Salam and Estee Lauder.

In her acceptance speech, Mallis highlighted the strength of ������’s fashion program, describing it as “a university that takes fashion seriously — as an academic discipline, as an art form, as a business and as a cultural force.” Turning her attention to students, she emphasized their role as the future of the industry, later adding a lighthearted but heartfelt reminder: “Call your parents and thank them for sending you to Kent State”

The evening was a fitting close to a week that exemplified what makes the Kent State School of Fashion one of the top 25 fashion programs in the world and ranked No. 6 in the United States.

2026 Annual Fashion Show Sponsors

The School of Fashion gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the 2026 Annual Fashion Show sponsors: 4 Your Wellness/Dr. Rodney J. Williams, B. Charles and Jay G. Ames Family Foundation, Clarity Colors — Marie Rader and Jim Angiulo, EDGE Fashion Intelligence , Heather B. Moore and Peg's Foundation.

About the School of Fashion

Kent State is in the top 25 fashion programs in the world and No. 6 in the United States. Additionally, the graduate program for fashion is No. 5 in the United States. Kent State's School of Fashion boasts three undergraduate degrees in fashion design and merchandising, and a variety of programs for all students to grow creatively. Located in Kent, Ohio, the school offers several study away programs, including New York City; Florence, Italy; Paris, France; and Hong Kong, China.