"To receive an honor that carries André Leon Talley's name, his presence, his light, is something I'll never take lightly," said Pharrell Williams from the stage of SCADShow in Atlanta. "SCAD meant so much to André, and this is a place that not only celebrates creativity but protects it, and it teaches artists to build careers from imagination. That makes this moment even more meaningful to me."
 
It was an epic evening covered by everyone from Vogue to Vibe, as SCAD unveiled André Leon Talley: Style Is Forever at SCAD FASH, the landmark exhibition celebrating the life and achievements of André Leon Talley, the visionary creative director, style legend, and beloved friend of the university. Events included a preview reception for museum members and the presentation of the André Leon Talley Award to Pharrell in recognition of his impact on the global fashion industry.
 
"André! The name conjures a man of wonder, wisdom, glamour, influence, and the warmth of a sun that burns brightly and will for the ages. With a caftan as his cape and words as his wand, André Leon Talley reigned as fashion's most winsome oracle, a beloved cultural titan, cherished friend, and mentor to SCAD Bees across the world," said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. "This landmark exhibition, along with a book of the same name by SCAD University Press, unveils André's private collection, a sartorial sanctuary he called his ‘armor' and his ‘tabernacle.' André dearly wanted these personal objects and artifacts to live on at SCAD in perpetuity, benefiting students and lovers of all things beautiful."
 
Made possible by Talley's extraordinary bequest of personal garments, accessories, photographs, and ephemera to the SCAD Permanent Collection, the exhibition honors the 10th anniversary of SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, an institution deeply influenced and shaped by Talley, who played a vital role in its establishment.
 
Curated by Rafael Brauer Gomes, creative director of SCAD FASH museums, André Leon Talley: Style Is Forever presents an evocative collection of couture and bespoke pieces from Talley's personal wardrobe — each reflecting the artistry and vision of celebrated designers such as Tom Ford for Gucci, Miuccia Prada, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Gianni Versace, Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga, John Galliano for Dior, Chado Ralph Rucci, Ricardo Tisci for Givenchy, and Isabel Toledo
 
"André Leon Talley didn't just shape fashion, he shaped people," said Gomes. "His legacy endures in garments and publications and in the lives he uplifted, the voices he amplified, and the doors he held open for others. This exhibition is our love letter to a legend who carved a place in history with style and conviction."
 
For more than two decades, Talley was a generous steward of SCAD and a passionate mentor to SCAD students from every academic discipline. With President Wallace, Talley was pivotal in establishing the university's fashion exhibitions program, lending his vision to acclaimed shows that strengthened the university's influence on design curation and education within global culture. Talley's enthusiasm for the university led to his longtime service on the SCAD Board of Trustees (2002–2014). He delivered the SCAD Commencement address in 2008, receiving an honorary doctorate of humane letters and becoming the first recipient of the SCAD Lifetime Achievement Award in Fashion, an accolade now known as the André Leon Talley Award.
 
André Leon Talley: Style Is Forever is on view at the SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah through Jan. 11, 2026, and at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta, Oct. 15, 2025–March 1, 2026. An accompanying exhibition catalogue, published by SCAD University Press and Rizzoli Electa, offers a further exploration of Talley's legacy.

Stylin': President Wallace and Pharrell Williams celebrate ALT at SCAD FASH.

For more information, visit scadfash.org.

In partnership with Villa Albertine Atlanta, SCAD Atlanta is bringing the very best of French cinema to SCAD FASH's cozy daytime film salon on two successive Saturdays in July. A double dose of Sixties classics from director Jacques Demy will create a très chic, très magnifique experience, and everyone's welcome to attend.
 
First, on Saturday, July 19 at noon, it's the exquisite opportunity to see a proper screening of Demy's 1967 masterpiece The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. The quintessential romantic musical of French fashion and charm stars one of the greatest actors of the 20th and 21st centuries, Catherine Deneuve, as an umbrella-shop owner's delicate daughter who falls for a handsome garage mechanic played by Nino Castelnuovo. When he is shipped off to fight in Algeria, the two lovers must grow up.
 
Exquisitely designed in a kaleidoscope of colors and told entirely through the lilting songs of the great composer Michel Legrand, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is one of the most revered and chicly unorthodox screen musicals of all time. Deneuve was launched to stardom by Demy's dazzling feature — and they were just getting started.
 
On Saturday, July 26 at noon, it's the SCAD FASH x Villa Albertine screening of The Young Girls of Rochefort, starring Catherine Deneuve and her real-life sister Françoise Dorléac. Charting missed connections and second chances, the vibrant musical delivers an effervescent confection of charm and charisma. Twins Delphine and Solange, a dance instructor and a music teacher played by Deneuve and Dorléac, long for big-city life. When a fair comes through their quiet port town, they are presented with the possibility of escape. With its jazzy Michel Legrand score, pastel paradise of costumes, and divine supporting cast (George Chakiris, Grover Dale, Danielle Darrieux, Michel Piccoli, and Gene Kelly!), The Young Girls of Rochefort is a tribute to Hollywood optimism from Sixties French cinema's preeminent dreamer.
 
SCAD FASH is pleased to partner with Villa Albertine for these special screening. Under the leadership of Cultural Counselor of France and Director Mohamed Bouabdallah, Villa Albertine crafts projects and programs aimed at making French language and culture accessible to US audiences and build partnerships between French and American higher education institutions. SCAD, with its renowned Lacoste campus in the heart of the Luberon Valley in France, continues its embrace of a global cultural embrace of community and inspiration.  
 
Both film screenings are open to the public. Tickets are free to SCAD FASH members. For more information, and to secure tickets, visit the SCAD FASH events page.

From the moment the ravishing Kate Croy (Helena Bonham Carter) appears in the dusky depths of London underground train wearing a brilliant, broad-brimmed blue hat and long-tailed suit, all evidence points to a film classic underway. Experience that cinematic thrill this Saturday, Jan. 4 by joining SCAD FASH for a special screening of Iain Softley's The Wings of the Dove, featuring the stunning costume designs of Sandy Powell.

Based on the 1902 novel by Henry James, this 1997 romantic drama stars Linus Roache, Alison Elliott and the aforementioned Bonham Carter in a dangerous pas de trois. Enjoy complimentary popcorn with fellow film and costume enthusiasts, as garments on view in the SCAD FASH exhibition Sandy Powell's Dressing the Part: Costume Design for Film are brought to life on screen. 

As superlative site The Fashionéaste ("For lovers of fashion in film") perceptively wrote: "The year is 1910, and the London elite clothed in the oriental-inspired finery by Paul Poiret, luxuriate in peace, before World War I befalls Europe.  Exoticism abounds, rich colors, Art Nouveau influences, feminine lines, softness are the trends of the day."

"The period in which The Wings of the Dove is set is a real turning point in the history of fashion," Powell said in the film's production notes, referring to a relaxation of the 19th century corseted look. "Clothing became a lot less restrictive."

As the film moves from London to Venice, the costumes change too, embodying the underlying emotions. As Powell said: "In Venice, I wanted to enhance the fact that the characters had been totally removed from the repression of city life. There is a release and a liberation that is reflected in their flowing, unstructured garments. I was keen to avoid a 'cream lace' look and instead the costumes in Venice feature lighter, brighter colors and have more of an ethnic, North African look."

Sandy Powell's Dressing the Part: Costume Design for Film immerses viewers in Powell's nearly 40-year career, featuring more than 125 costumes from films including Gangs of New York, Carol, Interview with a Vampire, The Aviator, The Other Boleyn Girl, and Velvet Goldmine.

Powell, recipient of the BAFTA Fellowship, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts' highest honor, remains a formidable force in filmmaking. Her career-long partnerships with directors Martin Scorsese, Todd Haynes, Neil Jordan, and Derek Jarman and actors Cate Blanchett, Leonardo DiCaprio, Julianne Moore, and Tilda Swinton have contributed to the creation of iconic film characters.

The exhibition exemplifies SCAD's continued commitment to the art of costume design. The university is proud to now offer its top-ranked production design and costume design degree programs in the prestigious SCAD School of Film and Acting at SCAD Atlanta. Experience Powell's extraordinary contribution to costume design by attending this Saturday's screening of The Wings of the Dove at SCAD FASH.

The Wings of the Dove is rated R for content, with a running time of 102 minutes.

Learn more about Dressing the Part at SCAD FASH.

SCAD proudly presents Sandy Powell's Dressing the Part: Costume Design for Film, the debut U.S. exhibition by esteemed British costume designer Sandy Powell, opening Oct. 11 at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta. Altogether, costume drama has never looked so good.
 
Curated by Rafael Gomes, creative director of SCAD FASH museums, the exhibition displays a stunning swathe of genres, periods, and realities. Showcasing Powell's inventive and dynamic work for films including Shakespeare in Love, The Favourite, Cinderella, The Wolf of Wall Street, and How to Talk to Girls at Parties, the exhibition welcomes cinephiles and costume lovers from around the world to Atlanta to witness the Academy Award winner's worldbuilding legacy.
 
"With 15 Academy Award nominations and three wins to her name, designer Sandy Powell has masterfully costumed iconic films beloved by generations," said SCAD President Paula Wallace. "Sandy is no stranger to SCAD — we have honored her at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, and I've welcomed her as a guest on my series On Creativity. Now, we bring our friendship full circle with Sandy Powell's Dressing the Part: Costume Design for Film. As home to the only museum whose mission focuses exclusively on both fashion and film, SCAD provides the perfect set for her award-winning oeuvre in her first U.S. exhibition!"
 
Powell, recipient of the BAFTA Fellowship, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts' highest honor, is a formidable force in filmmaking. Her career-long partnerships with directors Martin Scorsese, Todd Haynes, Neil Jordan, and Derek Jarman and actors Cate Blanchett, Leonardo DiCaprio, Julianne Moore, and Tilda Swinton have contributed to the creation of iconic film characters. In vignettes featuring more than 125 costumes from films such as Gangs of New York, Carol, Interview with a Vampire, The Young Victoria, The Aviator, The Other Boleyn Girl, Mary Poppins Returns, and Velvet Goldmine, SCAD FASH immerses viewers in Powell's nearly 40-year career.
 
"I am very excited that SCAD FASH has given me the opportunity to exhibit my first ever retrospective in the university's amazing museum in Atlanta," Powell said. "I hope that the carefully curated collection will serve to inspire students and aspiring costume designers just as I have been inspired by the ingenuity and creativity of the designers I have admired throughout my career."
 
The exhibition also presents a new, SCAD-produced documentary on Powell, highlighting how her spirit enriches her craft and proves essential to actors and directors. The film features interviews with her long-time technicians and collaborators, including Blanchett and Moore, providing an authentic look at Powell's creative process and her garments.
 
Sandy Powell's Dressing the Part: Costume Design for Film exemplifies SCAD's continued commitment to the art of costume design. The university is proud to now offer its top-ranked production design and costume design degree programs in the prestigious SCAD School of Film and Acting at SCAD Atlanta.
 
SCAD FASH creative director Gomes remarked: "Sandy Powell is one of the greatest artisans working in film. Her devotion to costume history, coupled with her visionary approach, has elevated some of the most unforgettable films over the past three decades. We are excited to be the first museum in the U.S. to present an exhibition of her work, and for the rich educational and cultural opportunity Dressing the Part presents to our students and everyone who visits the museum."

Witness Dressing the Part at SCAD FASH. 

Get ready for a fête to never forget! This Thursday, June 20 at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta, delight in the opening evening reception for Entering Modernity: 1920s Fashion from the Parodi Costume Collection. While period dress is not required, there will be no mistaking who's got the look.

The exhibition features more than 60 works by designers who embraced the era's ethos of experimentation with convention-defying artistry. Entering Modernity highlights the styles and silhouettes that came to define one of the most revolutionary periods in fashion history. The exhibition is curated exclusively for SCAD FASH by Francisca Parodi, founder of the Parodi Costume Collection, and Gonzalo Parodi, director of the Parodi Costume Collection, in partnership with Rafael Gomes, creative director of SCAD FASH museums.
 
“One century later, these culturally important garments continue to resonate and inspire," said SCAD President Paula Wallace. “Entering Modernity brings the radical world of the Jazz Age to glittering, glamorous life only at SCAD FASH. Visitors will be dazzled by evening wear and accessories fit for a night at Gatsby's from legendary designers Paul Poiret, Madeleine Vionnet, Jeanne Lanvin, and Jean Patou. This summer, make your way to SCAD FASH for an unforgettable journey back to the Roaring Twenties!"
 
Ushered in by the postwar boom of economic prosperity and freshly won freedoms, the Roaring '20s were marked by glitz, glamor, and radical social and sartorial transformations. Following the global upheavals of the First World War and the suffrage movement, the women of the 1920s embraced new careers, new experiences, and new attires — no longer bound by the rigid conventions and wardrobes of their 19th-century forebearers. Marked by elevated thinking as much as excess, the Jazz Age would forever change how women dressed, behaved, and expressed themselves.
 
Emphasizing the richness of materials and garment construction, Entering Modernity offers a glittering showcase of defining 1920s styles, from the newly introduced cocktail dress with its sleek layers and drop waist hem to other relaxed silhouettes designed for movement. Among the many expertly preserved and rarely seen haute couture works from the archive of the Parodi Costume Collection, the exhibition spotlights Madeleine Vionnet's Flame Dress, Jeanne Lanvin's Robe de Style, a wedding gown by Paul Poiret, a cocktail dress by Jean Patou, and other signature looks by Mariano Fortuny and Henriette Negrin, among others.

Madeleine Vionnet, Flame Dress, Spring/Summer 1923, France, pink silk moiré dress with dark pink velvet flame appliquéw motif and gold metallic embroidery. Courtesy of the Parodi Costume Collection.

“This collaboration between SCAD FASH and the Parodi Costume Collection is the ideal combination of archival depth, excellent scholarship, and discerning curation supporting education," said Gonzalo Parodi, Director of the Parodi Costume Collection. “As a university museum, SCAD FASH is the ultimate environment to promote exchange on the origins of modernity in fashion. Together, we aimed at a deeper narrative that exposes the evolution and complexities of garment design beyond conventional representations of the decade. We are honored to present the result of our dialogue in this exhibition."
 
Thursday's intimate members preview will include a gallery conversation between SCAD professor Sarah Collins and Gonzalo Parodi delving into the decade's sartorial innovations and contemporary efforts to preserve fashion history.
 
“We are honored to collaborate with the prestigious Parodi Costume Collection, an institution dedicated to fashion conservation, archiving, and education," said Rafael Gomes, Creative Director for SCAD FASH Museums. “The 1920s are one of the most illustrious decades, and SCAD FASH is thrilled to bring such important works of couture from names forever linked with the period, including Paul Poiret, Madeleine Vionnet, and Jeanne Lanvin, for our students and guests to learn from these iconic works of fashion history."
 
Entering Modernity: 1920s Fashion from the Parodi Costume Collection is on view June 21–Aug. 25, 2024, at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta. For more information, visit scadfash.org.

SCAD presents Manish Arora: Life Is Beautiful at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta. Life Is Beautiful is Arora's first museum exhibition and presents more than 100 bold creations from his runway collections, exclusive collaborations, and looks worn by an international cadre of celebrity clients from Bollywood to Hollywood. The exhibition, curated by SCAD FASH creative director Rafael Gomes, opened Wednesday, March 27 with SCAD students and the global press in attendance.

Life Is Beautiful showcases the exquisite garments that have earned Arora international acclaim as one of India's greatest design talents. The works on view display his signature aesthetic fusing techniques of Indian craftsmanship, such as hand-embroidery, beading, and appliqué, with Western styles and eclectic motifs in an explosion of color. An immersion in Arora's kaleidoscopic world, Life Is Beautiful features looks worn by loyal clients and admirers such as Priyanka Chopra, Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Kate Moss, Aishwarya Rai, M.I.A., Katy Perry, and more.

"Manish Arora has been famously called the ‘John Galliano of India,' and while the two share a profound gift for satire and the spectacular, Arora stands on his own in every conceivable way," said SCAD President Paula Wallace. "His oeuvre finds the perfect home in SCAD FASH, where fans of fashion and film luxuriate in an exhibition nonpareil, full of joy and celebration. India's greatest designer ascends triumphant in the greatest fashion museum in the U.S.!"

Arora established his namesake label in 1997 after graduating from the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi. His vivid collections and fanciful designs earned immediate international attention. In 2007, Arora was invited to show at Paris Fashion Week, becoming the first Indian designer to receive this honor. He was recognized as a member of the Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter des Couturiers et des Créateurs de Model and has since presented at Fashion Weeks in London, Hong Kong, and Miami. Arora served as creative director for Paco Rabbane, and throughout his career he has designed exclusive collaborations with the world's leading brands including Swarovski, Reebok, Swatch, Disney, Paris Saint-Germain F.C., MAC, and Nespresso.

"I consider myself an artist, and Life Is Beautiful invites students and viewers of all ages into my magical fantasy world bursting with color, happiness, joy, and love," Arora said. "It is a dream come true to see my creations in the first museum exhibition dedicated to my work and to be the first Indian designer featured at SCAD FASH. I am honored to inspire the next generations of artists at SCAD and grateful to Paula Wallace and Rafael Gomes for the university's vision and dedication to championing the beauty of diverse and global cultures."

Rafael Gomes, curator and creative director of SCAD FASH, explained how the exhibition has honed a legacy of exhibitions embracing diverse cultures and design practices: "Manish Arora is a storyteller, and his collections narrate India's rich sartorial history with a worldly point of view infused with joy and humor. We are delighted to celebrate and present his vibrant and imaginative world to SCAD's international students and community."

SCAD FASH hosted an exclusive opening reception featuring a conversation with Arora on his incredible career. SCAD students from many of the university's top-ranked degree programs — including fashion, accessory design, luxury and brand management, photography, and illustration — engaged with the designer directly. SCAD is the preeminent university for art and design, with an international student body representing more than 120 countries. SCAD fashion graduates will also take on the SCAD Alumni x Manish Arora Design Challenge, envisioned by SCAD President Paula Wallace. Alumni designers will create one-of-a-kind garments that express the beauty of life. The winner, selected by Arora, will be awarded an honorarium for creativity and design innovation.

Manish Arora: Life Is Beautiful is on view at SCAD FASH Atlanta through Aug. 18, 2024.

Arora photo: Colin Douglas Gray / / Banner image: Tarun Khiwal

SCAD is proud to announce Alex Delotch Davis as Executive Director for SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta and Lacoste, France. A SCAD alum with an M.A. in luxury & fashion management, Delotch Davis brings over fifteen years of experience as a leading arts marketer, strategist, and connector in Atlanta's vibrant arts and cultural scene.

As Executive Director, Delotch Davis will lead exhibition development, marketing, fundraising, and overall forward-thinking strategic vision and direction for SCAD FASH, SCAD FASH Lacoste, and SCAD Atlanta exhibitions. Additionally, Delotch Davis will serve as a university ambassador to the local arts community, museum patrons, and fashion and film industries. Delotch Davis's efforts will support SCAD FASH's mission to serve as a creative resource for students of all ages, providing inspiration to visitors through expertly curated museum exhibitions, films, and programming.

"I'm excited and humbled by the opportunity to be part of this diverse and innovative organization," said Delotch Davis. "I'm energized by what is on the horizon for SCAD FASH. The museum is a treasure for the community and it is an honor to amplify the outstanding exhibitions and programming. As an alum of SCAD Atlanta, I'm also thrilled to be part of an institution that supports the development of artists and cultivates opportunities in creative industries, which aligns very much with my personal and professional values."

Delotch Davis is a highly regarded communications and arts strategy expert, most previously overseeing marketing and partnership strategy for Atlanta's High Museum of Art, managing all special initiatives for the museum as well as directing the museum's digital, print, broadcast and social media campaigns.

Kari Herrin, SCAD Senior Vice President of Brand Experience said: "Alex Delotch Davis is an incredibly talented force in Atlanta's dynamic arts and cultural scene. Her keen sense of creative strategy, vision, and a connective spirit to champion love and appreciation for artists and designers throughout the community will be a tremendous asset to SCAD FASH. We are fortunate to have her leading SCAD FASH forward with inspiring exhibitions, programming and activations to enhance the bond between the university and the community, as well as reinforcing the museum's renown on an international scale."

Prior to joining the High Museum of Art, Delotch Davis led experiential marketing programs and branded activations for Cadillac throughout the southeast, expanding the luxury car brand's footprint at leading global arts events including Art Basel Miami. Delotch Davis also held senior marketing and public relations roles at Bloomingdales, Bill Lowe Gallery, and the City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs. Delotch Davis currently serves on the board of Atlanta Celebrates Photography and was recently appointed to Mayor Andre Dickens' Atlanta Arts Advisory Committee.

SCAD is recognized as the global leader in higher education for arts and design. SCAD FASH is a vital part of Atlanta's arts and cultural footprint, offering expertly curated exhibitions, films, special events, and performances that engage the university's academic disciplines, encompassing over 100 top-ranked degree programs. Current exhibitions on view at SCAD FASH include Ellen von Unwerth: This Side of Paradise for legendary fashion photographer and director Ellen von Unwerth, and Madame Grès: The Art of Draping. SCAD FASH is also thrilled to present Christian Lacroix Habille Peer Gynt pour la Comédie-Française at SCAD FASH Lacoste in Provence, France, opening July 1.

Learn more about SCAD FASH.

SCAD is thrilled to present the exhibition Ellen von Unwerth: This Side of Paradise at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta. Curated by SCAD FASH creative director Rafael Gomes, This Side of Paradise presents more than 50 photographs and fashion films from celebrated photographer Ellen von Unwerth's vast editorial and artistic repertoire.

“The exuberant Ellen von Unwerth shows SCAD students how to plot a truly polymathic career as a director, photographer, author, storyteller, stylist, model, provocateur," remarked SCAD President Paula Wallace. "This Side of Paradise at SCAD FASH is already the show of the season in Atlanta, and a spectacle worth seeing up close.”

Von Unwerth is one of fashion's most sought after photographers, revered for her provocative yet poignant images that amplify bold sensuality and the joy of identity's unique fluidity — themes that have carried throughout her work for more than three decades. Inspired by von Unwerth's Paris studio, the atmospheric exhibition at SCAD FASH emulates a mischievous and raucous party through a dazzling curation of the artist's trademark images brimming with movement, decadence, and glamour. Come face to face with fashion VIPs and cultural icons as seen through von Unwerth's lens, including portraits of Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, RuPaul, Britney Spears, Naomi Campbell, Paris Hilton, Christina Aguilera, Zoë Kravitz, Alton Mason, and others. This Side of Paradise's film component includes projections of von Unwerth's stimulating and exuberant short fashion films featuring characters played by Coco Rocha, Miley Cyrus, and Georgia May Jagger.

“I am so proud and thankful to SCAD FASH for dedicating this show to me," said Ellen von Unwerth. "This Side of Paradise is the place to be! The show reflects my vision of a society with no boundaries, of celebration, intimacy, love, friendship, fun, and glitter — even a little devil is allowed in. I hope everyone who visits enjoys this exhibition!”

Von Unwerth began her career as a model in Europe. Constrained by the rigidity demanded of models, she transitioned to a role behind the lens. Photography became the medium by which she shared her personality and artistic vision with the world. Throughout her career, von Unwerth has been celebrated for her distinct style and ability to portray electric narratives through her images and films. Her advertising campaigns for Guess, Agent Provocateur, Absolut, Chanel, Tommy Hilfiger, MAC Cosmetics, Baccarat, H&M, Dior, A.P.C., and Belvedere, among others, remain legendary. She is a longtime collaborator with the world's most revered fashion, art, and lifestyle publications including Vogue, Elle, Glamour, i-D, Interview, Numéro, Paper Magazine, Playboy, and GQ. An accomplished author, von Unwerth has published bestselling books showcasing her powerful photography including Snaps (1994), Wicked (1998), Couples (1999), Revenge (2003), and Fräulein (2009).

“Ellen von Unwerth is one of the industry's most enigmatic personalities and photographers — her style is truly one-of-a-kind, and her images and ffilms are spontaneous, playful, bold, and seductive," declared SCAD FASH creative director Rafael Gomes. "Ellen's thrilling body of work is an inspiration to so many of our SCAD students and it is an honor to present this exhilarating showcase at SCAD FASH.”

On the occasion of the exhibition, the museum hosted an exclusive reception and conversation with von Unwerth and journalist, editor, and curator Stefano Tonchi, followed by a masquerade party with an avant-garde dress code. SCAD students from the top-ranked degree programs of photography, fashion, advertising and branding, film and television, and luxury brand management were delighted by the opportunity to engage with the artist through portfolio reviews, artist talks, and other programming.

The opening of This Side of Paradise inaugurated the university's signature SCAD FASHION 2023 weekend in Atlanta, a film and runway showcase of innovative and original collections from students within SCAD's prestigious School of Fashion. Von Unwerth will be a featured guest for the weekend's festivities and the esteemed recipient of the SCAD Étoile, recognizing the artist's illustrious contributions to fashion, photography, and film.

Ellen von Unwerth: This Side of Paradise is on view at SCAD FASH Atlanta through January 8, 2024.

SCAD is thrilled to announce the exhibition Julien Fournié: Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! at SCAD FASH Lacoste. The exhibition opens April 3, 2023 at the university’s international location in Provence, France, with a special opening reception with the designer on Saturday, April 1, hosted by SCAD President Paula Wallace.

Set in SCAD FASH Lacoste’s wondrously preserved medieval caves, Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! is the first museum exhibition for grand couturier Julien Fournié and highlights an expertly curated selection of 20 of the designer’s most iconic and exquisite creations. It showcases the skill and craftsmanship that earned Fournié the exclusive prestige of haute couture.

“Julien Fournié is one of French fashion’s greatest masters and truly epitomizes the ideals and expert craftsmanship of haute couture in his work,” said SCAD FASH creative director and curator Rafael Gomes. “He is fearless in his approach to new technology and techniques, and such an inspiration to our students. We are delighted to present Julien Fournié: Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! and recognize his incredible artistry and contributions to France’s fashion industry.”

Fournié is celebrated for his masterful technique and artistry in the traditional French savoir-faire of haute couture. He was elected by his peers as an official member of the prestigious Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in 2017, an exclusive status granted to only 16 luxury brands throughout the world. Fournié’s thematic and fanciful collections, made to measure with precision in his Paris atelier, are composed of the finest materials, rendering elegant works of art that accentuate the female form.

Fournié is beloved by an international clientele for his passion, discipline, and innovative approach to design as art. He embraces technology’s fusion with fashion, often incorporating new digital techniques within the French haute couture tradition. As he expands his artistry into the metaverse, Fournié has established his place at the future of fashion.

While pursuing a medical degree, Fournié developed an anatomical understanding of the body, a skill that informs his accomplishments as a fashion designer. Graduating from the Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne in 2000 with a master’s degree in fashion design, Fournié joined the atelier of several haute couture houses including Christian Dior during the John Galliano era, Givenchy under Alexander McQueen, and eventually Jean Paul Gaultier. In 2003, Fournié was named creative director of Torrente Haute Couture. Fournié launched his eponymous label in 2009, instantly becoming one of the industry’s most talented designers.

“It is a true honor to be in a museum in one’s lifetime, and I am excited to share my pieces and magical textile constructions in a more intimate light than on the runway,” said Fournié. “Each and every seam was made in our Paris atelier, and we are proud of the masterful needlework techniques used to create my collections. In collaboration with SCAD FASH Lacoste and creative director Rafael Gomes, this exhibition shows that Haute Couture still shines in the 21st century.”

In celebration of Julien Fournié: Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! at SCAD FASH Lacoste, SCAD President Paula Wallace will host an opening reception with the designer, Saturday, April 1. Students from many top degree programs—including fashion, fibers, animation, illustration, painting, and art history—will have the exclusive opportunity to admire and study Fournié’s creations while engaging with the designer through conversations, master classes, and other programming.

Julien Fournié: Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! is on view April 3 through June 11, 2023.

photo: Delphine Royer

Enjoy an intimate look at two new SCAD Museum of Fashion + Film exhibitions at a curator-led, members-only tour, this Thursday, January 13, 2022, 6 p.m. in Atlanta.

SCAD FASH director of fashion exhibitions Rafael Gomes will give a behind-the-scenes tour of some of fashion history's greatest runway moments as he guides museumgoers through an exhibition of the photography of Robert Fairer. Robert Fairer Backstage Pass: Dior, Galliano, Jacobs, and McQueen features intimate portraits of supermodels, designers, and creatives capture the zeitgeist of fashion at the turn of the 21st-century.

The exclusive SCAD FASH also invites guests to witness the future of fashion with Robert Wun: Between Reality and Fantasy. The exhibition offers the opportunity to discover the bold work of emerging fashion designer Wun, a rising star in the fashion world who has dressed fashion mavens Billy Porter, Solange Knowles, Lady Gaga, Céline Dion, Issa Rae, and Tessa Thompson.

This tour is open to SCAD FASH members only. Space is limited, with admission through a first-come, first-serviced basis. Members may RSVP to [email protected].

About the exhibitions:

Robert Fairer Backstage Pass: Dior, Galliano, Jacobs, and McQueen
Before instantaneous access to fashion shows via livestreaming and social media, London-based artist Robert Fairer was backstage photographing the designers, models, hair and makeup artists, and stylists working in crowded spaces at a frenetic pace, moments before the final looks were presented. His intuitive ability to frame the beauty, drama, and energy backstage resulted in stunning images—found in the pages of British Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and American Vogue—that celebrate the creative talents who contribute to the magic of the runway. A captivating record of a bygone era, the exhibition features behind-the-scenes photographs from the house of Dior, John Galliano, Marc Jacobs, and Alexander McQueen.

Robert Wun: Between Reality and Fantasy
Robert Wun favors a narrative approach to fashion design, embracing a global perspective that honors his heritage yet refuses preconceived notions of Asian identity. He often looks to nature to inform his work, relating the asymmetry of organic forms to the complexity of being human. Energized by the potential of design to function as a universal language, Wun translates bold conceptual ideas into technically rigorous yet accessible garments that empower the wearer.

Rafael Gomes is the director of SCAD fashion exhibitions for the Savannah College of Art and Design. Before joining SCAD, Gomes was an archivist and exhibition coordinator at Vivienne Westwood, where he oversaw the coordination and styling of global fashion shoots, videos and fashion shows. Gomes also designed, planned and executed large-scale exhibitions at numerous world-renowned museums and galleries, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Palace of Versailles, the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and the SCAD Museum of Art.

Learn more about SCAD FASH, and become a member today.

Take the curator-led, members-only tour, Thurs., Jan, 13, 2022, 6 p.m.