ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì University's School of Fashion opens its biggest week of the year on Monday, April 27, with events running daily through Saturday, May 2. The six-day stretch builds toward the Annual Fashion Show and culminates with the induction of Fern Mallis — widely known as the "Godmother of Fashion" — into the School of Fashion Hall of Fame.
Monday and Tuesday: Student Work Takes the Runway
The week begins this morning with the First Year Visuals Fashion Show at 9 a.m. in Rockwell Hall, where first-year students present their end-of-year designs. The event is free and open to the public.
Tuesday brings two more showcases. The Knit Fashion Show runs at 1 p.m. in Rockwell Hall, followed at 5 p.m. by the 3D Virtual Fashion Show in the Design Innovation Hub's Blank Lab — a digital fashion show in which student-designed avatars walk the runway wearing garments built entirely in CLO fashion design software, with custom fabrics, prints and textures. That event is also free and open to the public.
Wednesday: Global Inspiration on the Runway
The Study Away Fashion Show takes the stage Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in the College of Aeronautics and Environmental Design Concourse/Armstrong Gallery. The show features student work inspired by global design experiences and includes runway gateways created in collaboration with visiting artist Adam Nathaniel Furman as part of the Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series. The gateways are currently on display in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design.
Thursday: The Main Event Opens
Thursday is the first major day for the Annual Fashion Show. The morning starts with the Behind the Scenes Fashion Show at 11 a.m. in Crawford Hall — an event designed specifically for prospective students that includes an information session, meetings with the student production team and BFA designers, and a seat at the fashion show itself. Registration is required.
At 1 p.m., the Portfolio Showcase opens in the Rockwell Hall Library.
That evening, the Opening Night Annual Fashion Show begins at 7 p.m. in Crawford Hall. The show — reserved for ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì students — is the public debut of 173 looks by 48 student designers, selected by a panel of industry critics and jurors. Collections span children's wear, knitwear, streetwear, avant-garde design and more. The School of Fashion Marketplace runs alongside the show.
"The Annual Fashion Show is not just a showcase — it's a celebration of students' dedication, creativity and innovation that will benefit the future of fashion," said Mourad Krifa, Ph.D., Margaret Clark Morgan Director of the ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì School of Fashion.
Friday: Awards Night and a Free Public Lecture
Friday morning, Fern Mallis delivers the annual Hall of Fame lecture at 11 a.m. in Rockwell Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public.
That evening, the Awards Night Annual Fashion Show takes the Crawford Hall runway at 7 p.m. Open to the public, it is followed by the annual awards ceremony. Among the awards presented are Best in Show, Innovation, Knitwear, Sustainable Design, TechStyleLAB and Student's Choice, among others. The School of Fashion Marketplace returns alongside the show.
Saturday: The Hall of Fame Gala
The week closes Saturday with the 2026 Fashion Hall of Fame Gala. A reception begins at 6:30 p.m. in Crawford Hall, with the fashion show taking the runway at 7:30 p.m.
The gala marks the formal induction of Mallis, whose career reshaped the structure and global profile of American fashion. She centralized and professionalized New York Fashion Week at Bryant Park for nearly two decades, building it from a scattered series of individual designer showings into a cultural institution that drew international press, corporate sponsors and a worldwide audience.
"Fern Mallis is a true industry titan whose vision and leadership have fundamentally shaped American fashion," Krifa said. "From creating New York Fashion Week to her tireless advocacy for emerging talent, her impact is immeasurable. We are honored to welcome her to ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì to share her insights with our students."
Mallis served two decades in influential leadership roles at the Council of Fashion Designers of America and as senior vice president of IMG Fashion. She is currently president of her own international consulting firm and has hosted the acclaimed "Fashion Icons With Fern Mallis" conversation series at 92NY for 15 years.
In its 37th year, the Hall of Fame honor celebrates outstanding contributions to the industry and the leadership qualities that inspire future generations. Mallis joins past inductees including Kenneth Cole, Estée Lauder, Oscar de la Renta, Dana Buchman, Leonardo Ferragamo, Josie Natori, Dame Zandra Rhodes and Donald J Pliner.
"I am so honored to be receiving this Hall of Fame honor from a university that has such an incredible fashion program and museum," Mallis said. "I've worked with many alums through the years. It is always special to be acknowledged for my work at this point in my life and career and to share what I learned along the way and give back to the next generation."