San Francisco’s Academy of Art University houses one of the nation’s top fashion schools. In fact, a few of the talented graduates get the amazing opportunity to showcase their collections to industry insiders at New York Fashion Week — how’s that for skills? Let’s review some of the highlights from the AAU’s fashion show held Friday at the prestigious Lincoln Center in NYC.

Juhyun Vivi Park
Park’s collection was inspired by the gradients of Mark Rothko’s paintings and the materials used in traditional work wear. Her modern flowy designs, combined with stonewashed linen fabrics, achieved a simultaneously vintage and futuristic look. If this is what the Apocalypse looks like, fashion has nothing to fear.

Dipti Irla
When Irla’s collection stepped onto the runway at Lincoln Center, I was whisked away to a lavish world filled with confident feminine women. All her models had on mirrored sunglasses and mirrored platforms that framed her looks perfectly. Beautiful shiny brocade fabrics from vintage Indian Sarees coupled with clean bold designs, resulted in a dazzling display of beauty and mystery.

Meredith Acton
Acton’s collection was inspired by Lewis Hine’s investigative photography of child laborers in the early 1900s. The elegance of silk, paired with the muted hues of beige and ivory, gave her collection gracefulness and humility. You can feel the simple beauty of struggle and strength in her collection. Bravo.

David Doerr
Doerr’s collection was based on the adventures of Soviet Cosmonauts. David designed an oxblood bonded cotton plaid suit, a sleeveless cotton mesh tank and red pant combo, and everything in between. Now that’s a cool Cosmonaut - take me to the moon.