ben_ellis-designerBen Ellis, BFA Menswear Design, was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. Having seen firsthand the dramatic deterioration of the native Alaskan habitat, Ellis upholds ethical and sustainable practices in his own design work. His collection is inspired by the Fauvism oeuvre of French artist Andre Derain. Ellis used repurposed denim and jersey for the majority of his designs. During his last semester at Academy of Art University, Ellis was awarded the 2016 California Fashion Foundation Scholarship Award.

The collection: (1) Short-sleeved wolf denim vest with treated denim pants (2) Alligator denim appliqué tunic with pants (3) Eagle printed and appliqué denim top over appliqué shorts (4) Leopard print denim tunic with pants (5) Sleeveless serpent lined denim top with jersey dungarees (6) Print denim draped coat over denim vest and drawstring jersey pants (7) Bear printed applique tunic over pants (8) Printed denim jacket over denim vest and pants

This is the 20th Showing of the Academy of Art at New York Fashion Week. This season, the School of Fashion at Academy of Art University selected thirteen 13 students to debut their Spring 2017 collections

“Since our first runway presentation at New York Fashion Week in September 2005, the show has grown in size and in the caliber of those in attendance such as retail executives, designers, recruiters, as well as the national and international media,” said Dr. Elisa Stephens, President of Academy of Art University. “We have always been committed to help launch the careers of our students, and are honored to have a platform of this magnitude to present their work.”

“This season each of designers holds a unique and thoughtful vision,” said Simon Ungless, Executive Director of the School of Fashion at Academy of Art University. “Their collections honor the essence of our industry and carry a conscientious connection to textile design, three-dimensional design, tailoring and construction techniques, they honor the essence of our industry. It has been a pleasure for all of us in the School of Fashion to guide them while preserving their individuality and integrity.”

Photos courtesy of Academy of Art University