FIDM Debut 2012 Fashion Show

The only show of its kind on the West Coast, DEBUT annually attracts more than 10,000 people over a three-day period. Featuring designs by graduating students in FIDM's Fashion Design and Theatre Costume Design Advanced Study Programs as well as work from the Interior Design and Textile Design Students, DEBUT's runway show event is one of the hottest tickets in town.

FIDM's annual DEBUT Runway Show attracts nearly 10,000 people over three days and features designs by graduating students in FIDM's Fashion Design and Theatre Costume Design Advanced Study programs, as well as work from Interior Design, Digital Media, and Textile Design students. The extravaganza concludes on the third night with the DEBUT Runway Show & Gala, a scholarship fundraising event attended by industry notables, FIDM Alumni, and fashion celebrities.

Designer Alejandro Ortega, who was born in Mexico, created a collection filled with graphic prints and bold color. Iconic designers such as Cristobal Balenciaga and Christian Dior inspire him.

Seattle, Washington native Alicia Czerwiec's women's wear collection was partially inspired by a cathedral she once visited in Lyon, France. Her designs featured weaving detailing, embellishments, and reverse appliques that mimicked stained glass.

A creative collaboration between Textile, Fashion, and Interior Design Students, Chairing Styles is an annual DEBUT tradition. The multidisciplinary exhibition features a garment and coordinating chair.

Designer Chelsea Dowell, who hails from Orange County, California, mixed voluminous silhouettes with sleek shapes in her DEBUT collection. Her all-knitwear collection is comprised of blacks, greys, blues, and plum shades.

Young contemporary women's wear designer Jessica Dunn showed punk-inspired plaids, cowl-neck blouses, and slinky racer back dresses. Inspired by smoke and shadows, she presented a dark palette with varying textures.

Snohomish, Washington native Joshua Christensen, who appeared on Project Runway, is a fan of brands such as Etro, Burberry, and Balmain. He created modern takes on classic American silhouettes for his DEBUT collection of menswear.

This year, DEBUT Students were given an opportunity to work with famed designer Karen Kane. She challenged the designers to create a Little Black Dress and the winning designs will be featured in an upcoming collection.

Inspired by classic Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers films, Los Angeles native Michael Pinpin created a mostly black and white collection with pops of red. His sophisticated women's wear collection was infused with texture and metallic.