Nothing marks the changing of the seasons like back to school, a crispness in the air, and, of course, fall fashion. For the past 20 years, the Bellevue Collection has marked the transition with an annual Fashion Week that highlights the latest trends in clothing, shoes, and beauty. This year, in celebration of its two-decade run, the eastside shopping destination is introducing a its latest event, the New & Next Student Designer Showcase, as a platform for emerging talent. On Saturday, September 27, students from four schools—Washington State University, Central Washington University, Seattle Central College, and Seattle Pacific University—will have the opportunity to send their designs down the runway in front of a live audience.

“By giving young designers mentorship from seasoned professionals and a platform to share their work, we’re helping to strengthen the regional fashion community and ensure local school programs thrive,” says Jennifer Leavitt, senior vice president of marketing for the Bellevue Collection. “Amplifying young voices in the fashion industry is essential for forecasting trends and bringing fresh, diverse perspectives to the forefront.”

Students participating in fashion and design-focused programs at the four colleges were invited to apply to the showcase, and two from each school were chosen to participate. “We looked for students who bring passion, creativity, confidence and fresh perspectives to fashion,” says Leavitt. Each New & Next designer will present two original looks at the Collective Runway Show at Fashion Week. Since the program kicked off in February, the students have had the opportunity to work with industry mentors to develop and make their pieces, learning about materials, fit, and garment finishing, as well as what it takes to produce a fashion show. After their debut, the student designs will be on display at the Bellevue Square shopping center from September 29 through October 9. 

“We’re providing student designers with mentorship, industry insight, and the invaluable experience of seeing their work on the runway,” Leavitt says. “Our goal is to uplift these students and offer them a real-world platform to share their creativity, gain exposure and grow professionally while working alongside seasoned fashion designers and producers.”

Seattle had the opportunity to chat with the participating designers; read on to hear about their work. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Gerardo Castillo Regalado, Central Washington University

Runway Looks: “My design aesthetic is rooted in the unapologetic rawness of urban culture and shaped by the defining moments of my life, with each garment serving as a bold visual and emotional statement. Influenced by pain, resilience, and the shared struggles of marginalized communities, I use fashion as a form of resistance and remembrance.”

Inspiring Trends: Urban culture, reimagining the male silhouette, sustainability.

Future’s Bright: “I’m excited about the continued shift toward sustainability, where ethics are finally being prioritized over profit. I’m also inspired by the rise of gender-fluid fashion, which is breaking down barriers and allowing the male silhouette to be reimagined without shame.”

 

Meli Rivera Garcia, Central Washington University

On Aesthetics: “Bold, vibrant, and unapologetically pink. These looks are rooted in experiencing love as a queer Latino: Layered, complex, and deeply personal. I incorporated a handwoven textile made with my family using a traditional petate weaving technique passed down from my grandmother and mother. I also used pink-dyed leather alongside sheer organza to represent the contrast of resilience and softness; how, as a trans person, you often need tough skin to move through the world, while still holding onto your inner softness.”

Trend Spotting: Meaningful designs, vibrant color, traditional petate weaving.

Looking Forward: “I am excited about the growing emphasis on sustainable fashion and meaningful design. Being resourceful has always been important to me, and I love seeing how innovation in fashion can come from reimagining materials and traditions.”

 

Annie Tempest, Seattle Central College

On Pursuing Fashion: “I have a previous degree in English and a background working in education, but as a kid I wanted to be an artist and to make things with my hands. When thinking about the next step in my career, I came back to that childhood dream and fused it with my love of nature to pursue design to protect and celebrate the natural world.”

Describe Your Work: “My work is centered around using my creativity, love of storytelling, and awe of nature to perpetually learn and challenge myself. My goals as a designer are to inspire connections with other living organisms and ecosystems, to increase accessibility to sustainability, and to build community.”

Lessons Learned: “I have learned that I love using design to solve problems. My designs are informed by how they will be worn and used and how they can be a part of more sustainable and circular systems.”

 

Max Moreno Rebollar, Seattle Central College

Design Approach: “I am most interested in designing clothing that look great while also offering some functionality to the wearer. This can be done by trying to make clothing more comfortable by using specific fabrics or adding unique details. I’m really inspired by other designers like Greg Jackson and _J.L-A.L_ where they use 3D design software to motivate their designs.”

Inspiring Trends: Technical men’s clothing, invisible pockets.

Future’s Bright: “A trend I’m excited to see is technical clothing design elements trickling down into men’s clothing. I love to see technical design features like invisible pockets used more in menswear.”

 

James Faull, Seattle Pacific University

Inspirations: “The leading inspiration for my designs is how a garment is going to function and feel in a specific environment. While I focus on specific environments, my goal with each piece is to design something versatile. I seek to design garments that function perfectly for their desired use and look so good that you can wear them for a variety of other purposes. This approach comes from my background as an action sports athlete. I began skiing when I was 2 years old and have pursued it ever since. Whether function or fashion, skiing or running, I have always felt that I have an eye for what is good, what is great, and what may be ming from a garment.”

Trending Now: “The athleisure trend has been around for quite a while, but I see space for evolution rather than extinction. When people think of athleisure, they often think of cozy multifunctional garments. I see it this way too, but I want to take it a step further. I want to exaggerate the performance side of athleisure, while maintaining the comfort and style that the target audience loves.”

 

Jennifer Erendira-Gallardo, Seattle Pacific University

On Pursuing Fashion: “I come from a humble background and have worked my way into the industry through dedication, skill, and perseverance. Since childhood, I have pursued the tenacious dream of becoming a fashion designer by working very hard academically to acquire the skills necessary to enter the industry.”

Self-Described Style: Exquisite, Regal, Romantic.

Design Process: “Although the process for working on this collection was challenging, I would overall describe this experience as rewarding. Throughout this project, I enhanced my designs through the usage of valuable feedback that I received from mentors.”

Lessons Learned: “I learned that I underestimate my potential abilities when it comes to creating my designs. In exploring new methods for enhancing designs, I found that I am capable of doing things beyond the boundaries that I set myself.”

 

Alizee Hargrove, Washington State University

Describe Your Work: “My work blends classic tailoring with unexpected, edgy details that keep it fresh and modern.”

Inspiring Trends: Neo-tailoring, corsetry revival, gender-fluid suiting.

Background: “I pursued design to have a creative outlet from my second degree in accounting. Fashion gives me the freedom to be bold and expressive, which balances the structure and logic of numbers.”

Learning Experience: “I’ve learned to trust my instincts and discovered that my strength lies in balancing sophistication with a daring edge.”

 

Kiah Conway, Washington State University

Real-Life Inspiration: “The parts of life that bring me happiness, wherever it may come from. It could be from the vibrant colors in my mother’s flower garden, the joy I felt when I was taught traditional beading from my Native American elders, or the fun I found when I was only 6 years old sewing my first project. My experiences and small pockets of happiness blend into my designs.”

Trendspotting: Maximalism, vibrant color, Native American beading traditions. “I am a huge fan of the maximalist approach to fashion. More specifically I love the mix of textures, patterns, and silhouettes that push the boundaries of what personal style is.”