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Original designs of senior fashion students will stand out on the runway during ���Ĺ���’s 2026 Fashion Show, “What’s Your Muse?” 

The professional production, which is open to the public and spotlights the ingenuity of ���Ĺ���’s vibrant fashion program, will take place on Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 25 at 4:30 and 8 p.m. in the university’s Lund Auditorium, 7900 W. Division St. in River Forest. 

Celebrating inspiration in all its forms, this year’s show features the artistic creations of 13 student designers and is brought to life by a student-led production team. 

Each collection interprets the idea of a muse in its own way, offering 13 perspectives, stories and visions of what inspiration can become when transformed into art. A wide range of styles, from bridal and formalwear to artistic streetwear, are featured. 

“Audiences will leave with a new experience and a new vision of what fashion is like today,” said student Natalie Mixon, a fashion design major who describes her work as “afrofuturist” and inspired by street culture and her upbringing on Chicago’s South Side. “���Ĺ��� provides students with a well-rounded view of fashion. It doesn’t just look one way.”

Student Emma Mendell, a designer of formalwear, said audiences can expect a larger show than in past years, reflecting the growing number of students studying fashion at ������.

“It’s definitely a very inspirational thing to see everybody’s ideas come to life,” she said. “This show will reach out to the audience and maybe inspire them in some way as well.”

���Ĺ���’s Fashion Design and Merchandising Department is recognized for excellence in fashion education in the Chicago region and beyond. Students routinely showcase their designs in regional shows, such as the Driehaus Fashion Awards for emerging talent, and have received prestigious honors. 

Tickets for “What’s Your Muse” are now available at /arts-minds/university-events/whats-your-muse.

About ������
Founded in 1901, ���Ĺ��� is a comprehensive, coeducational Catholic institution with campuses in River Forest and Chicago. The university offers an associate of arts in liberal arts and sciences; bachelor’s and master’s degrees through the Rosary College of Arts, Education, and Sciences, the College of Business, Information Studies, and Technology, and the Borra College of Health Sciences; as well as doctoral programs in information studies, applied social justice and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

As Chicago's premier Catholic Hispanic-Serving Institution, ���Ĺ��� is consistently recognized as a leader in academic excellence and value. U.S. News & World Report ranks ���Ĺ��� in the top 25 of Midwest regional master’s level universities, and #1 in Illinois for Best Value and ensuring the social mobility of its graduates.

About ���Ĺ���’s Department of Fashion

The mission of the Fashion Design and Merchandising Department is to empower students to pursue goal-oriented and dynamic careers in the global fashion industry. Rooted in ���Ĺ���’s liberal arts tradition and guided by the values of truth, compassionate service and ethical practice, the program unites design, business, culture and sustainability. Within an inclusive and collaborative environment, students cultivate technical expertise, creativity, innovation, intercultural understanding, professional excellence, critical inquiry and leadership, preparing them to shape a just, humane and socially responsible future in fashion.