ɫƵվ Institute of Technology Wins “Best School Entry” at the International Interior Design Association, ɫƵվ Chapter, 2024 Fashion Show
The ɫƵվ Institute of Technology (NEIT) dazzled at the 2024 IIDA ɫƵվ Fashion Show, held at the Roadrunner Boston. Competing against top design firms and institutions, the NEIT team emerged victorious, winning Best Student Entry, a testament to their creative vision and innovative craftsmanship.
The IIDA NE Fashion Show, a celebrated annual tradition, has captivated ɫƵվ’s design community for over two decades. Known for blending art, architecture, and fashion, the event challenges participants to reimagine wearable design using unconventional materials and concepts. This year’s show featured 19 teams, including six design schools, showcasing bold interpretations of the theme inspired by the movie The Menu.
The NEIT team impressed judges and attendees alike with their standout design, crafted using cast-off materials from the construction and interiors industry.
“Our concept, Opulent Waste, explores luxury, extravagance, and waste in the interior design and restaurant industries,” said Hope Thomas, Interior Design student and project lead. “Inspired by the gourmet dining experience in The Menu, our hors d’oeuvres designs, Oyster and Prosciutto with Peach, symbolize the delicate balance between opulence and waste.”
Beatrice Martins, student team member and model, shared insights into her creation: “My fashion is based on a prosciutto and peach hors d’oeuvre garnished with mint. The materials used include discarded memo samples, various textile trims for the skirt, Schluter DITRA mat and foam packaging for the hoop skirt, window screen for the underskirt, and painted Vycor flashing tape for the bodice. Embellishments for the hat and bodice were made from painted tissue paper, with the hat trimmed additionally with painted zip ties.”
Jaclyn Boisclair, another student team member and model, described her oyster-inspired design: “My fashion is derived from an oyster on the half shell hors d’oeuvre. The shell is constructed from papier-mâché made with flour, embellished with paint, and supported with cast-off paper rolls, upholstery webbing, and sill seal. The skirt and bodice are made from packing tape and cellophane, embellished with wallpaper and tile samples, and ribbon. The tendrils incorporate sill seal, insulation foam, window shades, cast-off ribbon and trim, upholstery cording, wallboard tape, and electrical wire. The pearls are made from salt and cornstarch, while the barnacles are carpet sample tufts. The gauntlets are crafted from Dura-Lar plastic film and cast-off craft materials.”
The collection embodied the concepts of waste and sustainability, demonstrating how discarded materials can be transformed into high-fashion artistry. The team was sponsored by Majestic Roofing and Home Improvement, Tiverton, RI and McGeorge Architecture Interiors, East Greenwich, RI.
“We’re honored to be recognized at such a prestigious event,” said Professor Dawn Edmondson, Interior Design faculty lead for the NEIT student team. “This experience not only showcases our students’ incredible creativity and innovation but also highlights the forward-thinking design education we provide at NEIT.”
Ready to start your journey? You can learn more about our Interior Design program here and apply to ɫƵվ Tech today!