Fashion Design senior Glitter Gomez faces the critic's panel with models from his "Crimson Mortality" collection.

Fashion Design Students Face 2024 CVAD Fashion Design Industry Critique Panel. 

Each year, the CVAD Fashion Design faculty members organize a panel of industry experts to evaluate the work of the senior-level students as they complete their capstone apparel collections.

This year, the Fashion Design program had 25 seniors presenting their final apparel collections, including menswear, womenswear, and childrenswear in the sportswear, activewear, and evening wear categories. The students' apparel collections are evaluated based on their strengths in cohesive merchandising, marketability, color, pattern, textile, creativity, and innovation. This year, a specialized sustainability category related to their use of cotton materials was also funded partly by a grant from Cotton Incorporated.

The critics who participated this year, alumni and friends of the CVAD Fashion Design program, generously volunteered their time and talents to help students prepare for entry into the fashion design industry. Their invaluable insights and expertise significantly contribute to the students' learning and growth, and we are deeply grateful for their continued support, said Barbara Trippeer, assistant professor.

The students are tasked with professionally showcasing their capstone collections, while the critics evaluate their conceptual development, merchandising strategies, garment construction, and use of trim, color, and textiles. This evaluation process is meticulously designed to reflect the real-world scenario of launching a fashion brand, equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge to meet industry expectations.

During these evaluations, the critics carefully score the work based on successful execution in several categories. These scores, which ensure the fairness and objectivity of our process, are then used to determine the award winners for the best collection at the end-of-year senior fashion show.

Our 2024 Industry Critic panel comprised various fashion design and apparel industry design directors, merchandisers, buyers, technical designers, fashion journalists, and alumni from across the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Attendees

• Kelsey Armstrong, Merchandise Coordinator, Neiman Marcus
• Cindy Fidler, Technical Design Manager, JCPenny
• Cynthia Rose Genztel, former senior designer, Dickies
• Star Grieve, Graphic & Textile Design Lead, Masood Textiles
• Tracy Hayes, former Fashion Editor: Dallas Morning News; former Editorial Editor: Neiman Marcus and Forty-Five Ten; former Editor in Chief: FDluxe.
• Que Henderson-Be, Production Coordinator, Rebel Athletic
• Tiffani Hudson, Senior Designer: Men’s Stylus and Shaquille O’Neal, JCPenney
• Sharias Irby, Dance Designer, Varsity Spirit Fashion
• Chris Kidd, Founder, StyleCareers.com
• Jonathan Mabra, Director of Apparel Production, Tish Cox
• Shen Mock, Senior Technical Designer, 81 Eighty-Dallas Cowboys
• Brittany Morris, Assistant Buyer, Neiman Marcus
• Alaena Reed, Senior Creative Designer, Rebel Athletic
• Danielle Rusthoven, Head of US Design, Masood Textiles
• Pamela Velez, Senior Designer, JCPenney
• Kourtney Williams, Technical Designer, JCPenney
• Mayra Yanez, Westmoor Manufacturing, Technical Designer