ai-spring-2017-61-finale-rene-mejiaRené Mejia, AAS Fashion Design student at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale is one of the nine students and recent graduates from Art Institutes schools who debuted their Spring/Summer 2017 Collections during New York Fashion Week.

For his collection, Mejia was inspired by Eduardo Degas and his magnificent ballerina paintings. The result is evening wear that is edgy and androgynous yet soft and feminine.

As one of the nine emerging designers – both current students and recent graduates – from The Art Institutes system of schools, New York Fashion Week was the perfect opportunity to showcase each of their talents, determination, and creativity.

This season’s theme was “Destinations.” The designers were challenged to take us on an inspirational journey of discovery and the collections that resulted walked the runway of The Art Institutes Spring 2017 show at The Arc, Skylight at Moynihan Station on September 8, 2016, the first night of New York Fashion Week.

Photos courtesy of The Art Institutes