MORII

Jeanie Xu, Nathan Wai

The human brain is the fundamental mechanism that allows us to experience and process what we perceive as moments. Specifically, the neural circuitry of the limbic system facilitates the construction of memories and the expression of emotional responses.

Limbic seeks to engage in an exploration of the neurological basis for human perception through an artistic lens. From neuroanatomist Ramon y Cajal's early exploration of the neuron, to the recent appropriation of neural activity for computation, the collection chronologically focuses on different neurological discoveries and how they have altered our understanding of cognition. Incorporating a combination of voluminous silhouettes, mixed media details and romantic finishes, Limbic captures the essence of intricacy and delicateness underlying systems of the brain.

—

Website →

ETERNAL GARDEN

Pauline Qin, Remi Adeoti

Morphosis channels the essence of storytelling and oral tradition and its inherent youth. As folktales get passed down through generations, they go through the process of a rebirth each time they are recounted because each individual will tell the story in their own unique way. Folktale is a structure which can change and mold its shape throughout time. The line visually represents this by creating a pattern emblematic of a carbon structure which can take on many different forms while preserving its substance.

—

Website →

COLLECTIVA

Jessica Timczyk

Bloom inspired by the uninhibited expression of childhood. Childhood can be characterized as a moment of intense curiosity as well as a vivid exploration of personal and cultural identity, which can soften as we age due to stricter adherence to social norms, standards, and occasions. Bloom aims to recreate the imaginative identities that emerge from a child’s extravagant, fantasy world by creating aesthetic abstractions of fictional childhood obsessions. This line combines a child’s disregard for time and place with a fascination for fantasy to create “occasion-less”, fantasy-inspired pieces.

—

Website →

YESTERDAY

Ugne Ziausyte, Michael Powell

Yesterday defines our current moment as a liminal space constantly in tension between the past and future. For this year’s show, we drew inspiration from Pittsburgh’s industrial history. In the 1980s, Pittsburgh experienced a massive transition out of its identity as an industrial city, forcing it to adapt and rebuild. Today, Pittsburgh demonstrates resilience by continuing to evolve with the times while honoring its roots.

—

Website → Livestream →

ANOMIE

Jumana Akoad, Kenneth Cohen, Ruhani Mumick

—

Website → Livestream →

FEROX

Grace Kao, Gilly Johnson, Jarret Lin

The Lunar Gala: an intergalactic celebration of the yearly contributions of the Interplanetary Federation for Peace and Protection. The year is 2268, and, on this 250th anniversary of the planet Earth’s quarantine, we present Ferox, a public demonstration of the hostility of the Earth’s previously dominant species, the homosapien. We invite Federation sponsors and visitors to observe, for the first time, the savagery we have successfully contained. Infused with Federation principles, the previously dangerous human race is now docile - an allegory for the potential of the IFPP to mollify threatening agents intergalactically. Come celebrate with us! And, in the process, bear witness to a species, that, prior to this event, has been contained for centuries.

—

Video → Website →Livestream →

SONDER

Michelle Cho, Catherine Zheng, Lynzky Deleon

Inspired by bright colors and kaleidoscopic textures, Sonder personified the awakening through which we become aware of the parallels between our own vivid and complex experiences and that of any passerby. This was the first year Lunar Gala Alumni took part in the show, bringing together the past and present.

—

Website → Livestream → Video →

STRAIN

Jessica Shen, Miriam Buchewald, Jibby Ani

Strain played on the concept of evolution and physical force, mirroring how Lunar Gala has grown through the pressure of CMU over time. Emphasizing transparency, Strain gave a look behind the scenes with backstage, internal team, and designer videos during the show, and experimented with color extremes.

—

Website → Livestream → Video →

VESTIGE

Zach Bergeron, Rachel Ciavarella, Coleen Clifford

Through information distortion and folklore, the goat has fooled others into thinking it is something far greater. Similarly, humans have curated their lives to the public to present a superhuman view of their actual selves. They want to satisfy the urge to be connected, to be desired. Vestige exploited the human need for stimulation, and saturated the mind to give the viewer the information high they have been seeking.

—

Video →

HYPNÔSE

< h2 class="subtitle">Ceecee Chang, Alana Fusaro

Referring to a dream-like state that stimulates the mind and heightens the senses, Hypnose was created to push the boundaries of fashion on the runway and to imprint in the audience's’ memories. This was the year the Lunar Gala magazine was born, along with the Lunar Gala Blog that lives on to this day.

—

Video →

VENIN

Chris Ioffreda, Joanne Yun, Alex Deronde

As one of the first shows to place emphasis on a visually cohesive theme, Venin incorporated video art, promotional videos, 360-degree photographs of the clothing, and a mobile app for the show. The show was split into two halves: light and dark, and placed designer lines and acts accordingly.

—

Article → Poster → Video →

BLUR

Ian Anthony Coleman, Brieanna Nesbit

—

Video →

MELANGE

Eddie Wong

—

Video →

TENSION

Jessica Meng, Hannah Pileggi

—

Video →

EVOLVE

Terrence Boyd, Jessica Meng

—

Video →

KARMA

Stephen Lim, Jamie Song

Being the twelfth anniversary, Lunar Gala had come full circle and completed one cycle of the zodiac. Karma showcased the whimsical and witch-like karma emblem, and emphasized the cyclical process of dominance and submission through the lines and dances.

—

Video →

VICE VERSA

Natisha Kang

—

Video →

X

David Bong, Kwan Kim, Rigardo Rush II

Focusing on the “extreme”, “exciting”, and “expressive” aspects of fashion, the “X” theme was chosen in honor of Lunar Gala’s ten-year anniversary in hopes to emphasize the unknown factor of designing clothing.

—

Video →

TIME

Engly Chang

—

ALTER THE REAL

Kaily Yuri Lee, Carrie Yu

After many years of Lunar Gala being held at University Center Hall, the show was finally moved to Wiegand Gym, where it now holds over 1000 show goers.

—

Video → Article → Info →

EXPERIENCE IDENTITY

Eray Chou

In order to incorporate greater diversity of designs, Experience Identity was the first show to ever feature “Mini-Collections,” which inspired a handful of designers to each create only 2 looks.

—

YEAR OF THE SNAKE

Anna Wei

—

YEAR OF THE HORSE

Olive Chian, Thu Wu

—

YEAR OF THE DRAGON

Elena Chon

—

YEAR OF THE RABBIT

Shannon Tam

—

YEAR OF THE TIGER

Shannon Tam, Douglas Lee

Improving on the show, the second year of Lunar Gala presented student designers, and incorporated themes for participating retailers. With an overall theme of “chic and panache,” Lunar Gala turned into a VIP style event, and was rebranded into the “it” event of the year.

—

YEAR OF THE OX

Jimmy Chiang

Birth of Lunar Gala Fashion Show <br><br> Keeping with the tradition of new clothes being worn on Lunar New Year’s Day, the first Lunar Gala show celebrated the Year or the Ox with a theme of “high fashion”.

—

Article →