Philadelphia University’s student fashion designers won the first-ever Student Design Award presented Oct. 10 at the Philadelphia Fashion Week, a new three-day celebration of fashion.

In addition, eight of the winning student designs will be featured in an encore fashion show at Macy’s in Center City, Philadelphia, located at 13th and Market Streets, in the store’s Grand Court on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 5:30 p.m.

Attendees can give a $10 cash donation at the door to benefit Philabundance and receive $10 to spend at Macy’s. The PhilaU student designs will be displayed in the Macy’s windows following the Tuesday event.

“This is an extraordinary win and we are thrilled to be part of this wonderful new event,” said Clara Henry, director of Philadelphia University’s Fashion Design Program.  “It is an honor to be recognized by a panel of industry judges for the superior work, creativity and talent of our students, and we’re over the moon about it.”

A photo gallery of the PhilaU fashion designs is featured on Philly.com and Phrequency.

Henry, Kelly Davis ‘09, Thomas DeJesus ’09, Carrie Hansen ‘09 and Krystie Kocsi ’09 were featured in a SnapGlow.TV video featuring the “young guns” of Philadelphia fashion.

On the last night of the inaugural event, a five-judge panel of fashion industry officials chose Philadelphia University to receive the first Student Design Award, presented by Macy’s.

Featured in the PhilaU runway show were current student designers and recent graduates Michelle Bethune, Helene Curley, Chloe Bradbury, Anfisa Sokolova, Jillian Garvey, Bridget Garvey, Bridget Sopko, Nicole Macchio, Julia Wallner, Carrie Hansen, Krystie Kocsi, Andrea Crews, Thomas DeJesus, Kelly Davis, Gretchen Harris, Lourdes Cisneros Madrigal and Althea Pappas.

PhilaU designers were showcased on the second night of Fashion Week, with music blaring and fashionistas in attendance at the 23rd Street Armory in Philadelphia.

The fashions ranged from a dazzling array of red dress designs and leather and lace equestrian gown, to a hip trio of leather-trimmed outfits inspired by rock icons Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison and, finally, a stunning full-skirted wedding gown fit for a princess.

“Every piece of each of these mini-collections had a ‘wow factor’ and one model after another walked out to an audience of gasps, oohs and ahhs,” wrote fashion photographer Jeff Cohn on his blog about the PhilaU fashion show last week.In addition to the fashion design students, PhilaU Architecture students designed the set for the entire event and students in the Fashion Industries Association (FIA) were heavily involved in the event and produced the PhilaU show.

Photo Credit: Heather Guidice