OCTAVIUS MARISON DEBUTS FW 20/21 COLLECTION WITH FASHION DESIGN STUDENTS AT THE ART INSTITUTE OF ATLANTA

Photo Credits: Paras Griffin/GETTY and Art Institute of Atlanta’s Taylor Bareford; Phaedra Williamson

On March 14, 2020 the Art Institute of Atlanta made fashion history with their extraordinary, student-driven production which even made national headlines via E! News and Essence.com. The newsworthy event boasted a celeb-filled front row to include Eva Marcille, Angelica Ross, Dyllon Burnside, Terri J. Vaughn and Jamal Sims, who directed the show that provided the talented students of the Art Institute of Atlanta the experience of a real-world, first-class production. Students, faculty and administrators across all disciplines worked together in unison to produce the multi-media extravaganza: fashion design, photography, video & audio production, culinary arts, graphic design and interior design.

Sixteen fashion design students participated in the juried fashion premiere. They showcased capsule collections in menswear and ready-to-wear featuring a wide variety of genres, from eveningwear to gender-fluid fashion. It was evidently clear that the future of fashion is alive and thriving at the Art Institute of Atlanta. For added educational value and impact, the young designers were paired with professional fashion designers months before the runway show. The mentorship guided students to success while offering real-world working situations that included multiple fittings with professional models, critiques, garment mockups and working alongside industry professionals on all levels of production.

Visually, the fashion show was dynamic, from the set to the clothes to the choreography of the models. The set was designed and built by Carlton Lee Studios and featured two jumbo screens and a custom neon lit runway within the open air lower deck of the parking lot - think The Fast & The Furious, Tokyo Drift. To drive home the theme (no pun intended) Lexus sponsored the event with car placement - on the runway itself! The Lexus LC 500 and Lexus RCF Track Edition were positioned front and center becoming a focal point and anchoring the runway. Jamal Sims (Aladdin movie choreographer) directed the show to perfection. The culmination of movement, set design, hair and make up by Paul Mitchell Schools and of course, the fashion, made for a spectacular presentation.

Lastly but most certainly not least, Octavius Terry, the man behind the vision and the Art Institute of Atlanta’s Fashion Coordinator said this was a “dream come true.” Terry, who is a menswear designer, joined the Art Institute nearly two years ago and from the beginning talked about bringing together all departments for an all-inclusive, collaborative production that, under faculty guidance, would be 100% student driven and produced. His dream was realized and more.

Octavius Terry debuted his FW 20/21 menswear collection titled “Octavius Marison.” The fourteen look collection offered an elevated interpretation of streetwear meets sartorial elegance. “The mix of modern living and antiquated living (near the Wall of China)” was an inspiration said Terry. “Kill Bill came to mind because it is all about the underdog rising and that’s what I felt about our school, faculty, students and also myself.” The collection was rich in color and pattern. It was edgy yet wearable. An obsession-worthy key element to the collection were the various ponchos with bold zipper hardware. A definite must-have.

And just as we thought things couldn’t get bigger or better, the grand finale came with a Proclamation for Octavius Terry presented by Councilman Antonio Brown - an emotional highlight of the evening.

History was made at the Art Institute of Atlanta. On all levels.

BTS with Models, VIPs, Designers & Guests at the Art Institute of Atlanta

Dallas Christopher, Paul Mitchell Schools

Art Institute of Atlanta

Art Institute of Atlanta designers in sewing studio pre-show.

Cathy Lee (LEXUS) Octavius Terry & E. Vincent Martinez

Art Institute of Atlanta

E. Vincent Martinez & Alex Page

Art Institute of Atlanta

Art Institute of Atlanta Fashion Show Emcee, Regina Love (center)

(l-r) E. Vincent Martinez; Art Institute of Atlanta President Elden Monday

Tony Shorter & Terri J. Vaughn

Art Institute of Atlanta

Alex Page, Cathy Lee & Simply Buckhead's Joanne Hayes

Art Institute of Atlanta

President Elden Monday & Eva Marcille

Art Institute of Atlanta

Art Institute of Atlanta Dean Max Shangle has words of wisdom for high school fashion student.

Art Institute of Atlanta

Art Institute of Atlanta Fashion Faculty

Karron English & Dr. Priya Pandey

Octavius Terry

Art Institute of Atlanta

Jamal Sims

Art Institute of Atlanta

LEXUS makes its grand entrance.

Art Institute of Atlanta

FASHIONADO

Fashion Veteran Octavius Terry and Top Atlanta Fashion Designers Guide Students of The Art Institute of Atlanta To Runway Success

Seventeen up-and-coming fashion designers to showcase their work

alongside Terry’s at a Japanese Street Racing themed show.

Fashion designer, Octavius Terry

On March 14, 2020, seventeen designers from The Art Institute of Atlanta will showcase the talent, determination, and creativity they’ve transformed into their Fall/Winter 20/21 and Spring ‘21 collections. The show will take place at The Art Institute of Atlanta located at 6600 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd, Atlanta, GA 30328. The evening begins with a VIP reception at 4 p.m. and followed by the runway show at 6 p.m.

The show is the brainchild of Octavius Terry, fashion designer and fashion design program director at The Art Institute of Atlanta. Current fashion students at the school vied for the opportunity to show their collections at the event. Designers were vetted and selected by the school’s fashion faculty and seventeen were chosen to proceed in designing a mini-collection of three to six looks based on the theme of “Tokyo Drift.” Each designer was mentored along the way by elite Atlanta fashion professionals Brandin Vaughn, Ismael Pacheco, Jasmine Elder, Kudzanai Karidza, and Reco Chapple. The seventeen student designers’ work will be shown alongside Terry’s Fall/Winter 20/21 collection titled “OCTAVIUS MARISON” at the event and promises to be a night to remember in Atlanta fashion.

“These designers understand that fashion is more than buzz worthy garments. It’s a process that involves inspiration, sketching, fabric selection, garment construction, and endless revisions before a creation can be shown,” said Terry. “They’ve overcome challenges and pushed their creative limits. Along the way, they’ve proven that they have what it takes to design and present a collection on the runway.”

The show is giving more than these seventeen students a glimpse into the life of fashion. “Current students in The Art Institute’s programs have helped to create an event that will wow the Atlanta fashion community and make the show an annual staple on the city’s fashion calendar,” said Campus President Elden Monday. “The filming, graphic design, catering, and audio for the event are all being handled by our students. Culinary students will cater the event, film and photography students will capture the evening’s excitement by camera, industrial design and graphic students have helped to design sets and materials as well. Across the campus, this event gives students the opportunity to work on a real-life project and make an impact in the arts.”

Carlton Lee Studios is assisting with set design and famed choreographer Jamal Sims is directing and co- producing for the event. Tickets for the VIP party and event can be purchased HERE.

FASHIONADO