Next-gen designers take stage in Bellevue
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Jennifer Erendira-Gallardo works with fabric as she prepares pieces for her collection. Photo: Courtesy of The Bellevue Collection
Eight emerging designers from Washington and beyond are stepping into the spotlight at Bellevue Fashion Week's first-ever New & Next Student Designer Showcase.
State of play: All are students at Washington State, Central Washington, Seattle Central or Seattle Pacific, chosen for their design proposals and given mentorship, a stipend and runway experience to debut two original looks.
Why it matters: Their pieces are not just about retail trends but about seeing where fashion is headed through the eyes of the people who will define its future.
What they're saying: "Mentoring these young designers has been incredibly rewarding," designer Olayinka Ola told Axios. "I was especially impressed by their resilience and innovative ideas."
Who they are:
- Kiah Conway (WSU, Omak): Maximalist looks with Native beading.
- Jennifer Erendira-Gallardo (WSU, Tacoma): Corsetry and historic silhouettes.
- Meli Rivera Garcia (CWU, Sunnyside): Bright designs with petate weaving.
- Alizee Hargrove (WSU, Anacortes): Gender-fluid suiting and neo-tailoring.
- Annie Tempest (Seattle Central, Carbondale, CO): Regenerative materials, nature-inspired.
- Gerardo Castillo Regalado (CWU, Oroville): Urban silhouettes, sustainability.
- James Faull (SPU, Boise, ID): Performance athleisure.
- Max Moreno Rebollar (Seattle Central, Garland, TX): Technical menswear, hidden details.
What we're watching: The New & Next showcase marks a debut for these students — and a glimpse at the direction Northwest fashion is heading.