Lasell University students, alumni, and faculty participated in Boston Fashion Week this September as curators, producers, designers, and fashion industry thought leaders.

The French Cultural Center in Boston partnered with the Lasell University Fashion Collection (LFC) to present a pop-up exhibit (pictured above), "100 Years of French Fashion," which included 19 garments and artifacts from the Lasell collection. The collaboration marked the public launch of the LFC's online catalogue, and served as a way to highlight student work through the installation's written research and mounted artifacts. Fashion Merchandising and Management students Deanna Plaisted '21, Kendra Sperry '20, and Matthew Searth '21, as well as Fashion Design and Production students Elizabeth Witherell '20 and Sarah Reese '20, worked with LFC faculty to curate and present their work at the exhibit.

"This was a significantly positive and upbeat evening that celebrated not only the sagacious power of research regarding dress and appearance, but also the facilitation of our identity as a strong and vital University," said Lynn Blake, program chair of fashion design.

The partnership was fostered by Jill Carey, professor and curator of the LFC. Carey and Stephanie Hebert, collections manager, are eager to move forward with additional partnerships that highlight the historical and scholarly opportunities available through the LFC.

"Without a doubt, the exhibit at the French Cultural Center represented Lasell University as a leader in community culture," said Anne Trevenen, dean of the School of Fashion and associate professor of fashion design.

Three student designers - Allie Doyle '20, Sarah Reese '20, and Sarah Rudker '20 - featured work at the "Fall/Winter '19 Trend Report" presentation by Fashion Group International (FGI) of Boston. Nine additional students, all interns for FGI, produced the event.

At "The Process/The Next Generation of Fashion" presentation, Lasell University School of Fashion students and alumni Eunice Bruno '19, Samuel Bettencourt '20, and Mariana Lenskaya '19 showcased designs alongside peers from Framingham State University, Massachusetts College of Art + Design, and School of Fashion Design, Boston.

"Our students stood out as articulate, accomplished, and professional in every sense," said Trevenen. "We were certainly seen and heard in the very best way."

Recent graduates Ammy Thach '19 and Cailin Flannery '19 showcased work at "Prophecy," an event aimed to "push your senses further than the runway ... through a showcase of designers that are creatively talented, accomplished, and extremely energetic about sharing their vision of style," according to the event website. Behind the scenes, more than 20 first-year student producers represented Lasell.

Faculty member Alicia Kennedy, instructor and author of Fashion Design, Referenced, participated in WBUR CitySpace's GlamSlam, a storytelling event at which local fashion professionals shared significant moments in their careers. 

Photos by Matthew Searth '21