News Bites: Fashion Studies Students Collaborate with Designer Behind Rising BCALLA Label

A recent local fundraising event gave students in Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University’s (KCAD’s) Pamella Roland DeVos School of Fashion Fashion Studies program the opportunity to work alongside one of the fashion industry’s hottest young designers.

New York-based fashion designer Bradley Callahan, the founder of the BCALLA fashion line and designer of eye-popping one-off garments for the likes of Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus, enlisted a group of Fashion Studies students and alumni to help him organize a futuristic unisex runway fashion show held during the Rumsey Street Bazaar, a multi-faceted fundraising event organized by the Women's Committee of the Grand Rapids Symphony and hosted by Grand Rapids-based non-profit arts organization SiTE:LAB.

Designger Bradley Callahan (2nd from left) with KCAD students and alumni (credit: Ray Nard)

Students Maddie Kroll, Mackenzie Schmaltz, Mackenzie Santamore, and Carmen Thomas and alumnus Matthew Poszgay (’15, Fashion Studies) volunteered to work with Callahan to complete the construction of garments featured in the show, and also helped plan the show’s production.

“The looks were completely up-cycled and brought to Grand Rapids semi-finished, so the students were able to help Bradley complete each garment. This fashion show was very unique and unlike anything we've worked on before, so that alone is a valuable experience,” says Fashion Studies adjunct instructor Kelly Muschiana, who first made the connection with Callahan.

(credit: Ray Nard)

(credit: Ray Nard)

(credit: Ray Nard) 

Apart from getting some invaluable face-time with Callahan, the students were able to dive into executing a complicated runway event that included theatrical model presentations, special effects, and out-of-this world fashion designs. It’s the kind of real-world experience they won’t soon forget.

“This was a tremendous opportunity for the students to use skills they have already learned as well as a hands-on approach for organizing and directing a fashion show,” says Muschiana.  

For more information on KCAD’s Fashion Studies program, visit kcad.edu/fashion.