Santa Rosa Junior College’s Fashion Studies program presented its 2025 Spring Fashion Show “Wild Metropolis” to showcase its student’s talent to the community on May 1 at the Clocktower Plaza on the Petaluma Campus.
In an outdoor setting, 38 SRJC fashion students debuted their nature-inspired garments to a sold out crowd of 200+. In the largest show to date, six student designers debuted their original collections. Over 40 models of all shapes, sizes and genders presented clothing designed and crafted over the last semester.
In a press release show director and SRJC student Henrik Gutt said, “I am thrilled to direct this year’s fashion show celebrating the creativity and talent of our local student designers. It’s going to be a spectacular evening of fashion, artistry, and community!”
This year’s theme, “Wild Metropolis,” explores the contrast between the natural world and the urban landscape, bringing the jungle to the city and highlighting the untamed beauty of nature through fashion.
The collaborative production pulled in expertise from SRJC media studies students including audio and video support and photography. Pumping bass beats by Kailen Ward powered the catwalk while Lytle’s Beauty College students set the tone with florally-inspired hair and makeup. SRJC Theatre Arts students provided set design and constructed the portal where models emerged to walk through the audience.
“I love the new location we’ve chosen, Clocktower Plaza, because it lets us create a round runway where models will walk through the audience,” said Emily Melville, fashion studies program coordinator. “This setup gives everyone dynamic, up-close views of each look, and it’s going to make the show feel much more interactive and lively.”
Different chapters of designer wear carried themes of jungle, tropics, city and nightlife. Six designer collections explored inspirations of friendship, punk music, “fun with pleats,” femininity, spring time and wildflowers.
Mina Nguyen, a senior at Rancho Cotate High School and SRJC fashion student, said her collection, “The Whisper of Spring,” celebrates the spring weather, butterflies and the flowers she sees around her. She has been sewing for four years and plans to follow fashion design after graduation. “I’m glad that people liked my pieces,” she said.
Student Kristine Cole modelled two dresses she designed, and another model wore her men’s shirt. “The men’s shirt, I really got excited about matching the prints on the pockets and creating something that my husband or my son could wear. I have learned a lot and it’s been a lot of fun,” she said. Cole has been taking SRJC classes on and off since 1996.
Fashion studies classes emphasize the “think locally, act globally” concept. Students are taught to think about where materials come from, how they can cut patterns to waste less, design pieces that last and help to reshape a wasteful and pollutive industry.
“I think it’s crucial to encourage students to think about the planet from the very beginning. Fashion has a huge impact on the environment; from the resources it uses to the waste and pollution it creates,” Melville said. “If we’re not intentional about our choices, we end up reinforcing systems that are no longer sustainable.”
The evening concluded with the Fashion Studies design contest, themed “Jacquard to Dye For.” This year’s challenge required students to develop original designs using jacquard fabrics generously donated by Bella Notte Linens and enhanced with natural dyes such as indigo, marigold, and cochineal.
SRJC Fashion Studies instructor Lyra Bobo said they collaborated with Petaluma’s Fiber Circle Studio to help them dye large pieces of fabric with natural dyes. Bobo has been teaching fashion studies for 28 years, and it’s the students who keep her going. “They really inspire me. I never realized how much students bring to the table,” she said.
Models withstood 56 degree weather wearing embroidered jackets, floral shirts, wide-leg pants, breezy corsets, flowing skirts and dresses, dyed overalls and crop tops as audience members voted for their favorite original outfits.
Student designers Nik Kurtz, Deborah Wong and Tammara Norman each won industry-standard sewing machines for their creations. Show creator and director Heinrik Gutt won the People’s Choice Award of $100.
“It’s been liberating to bring my drawings to life. Each piece reflects skills I’ve gained from every course in the program,” said graduating fashion student Erica LaFave in a press release.
Fashion students complete 2-4 garments each semester. Advanced students creating for the fashion show end up making 10-20 garments, depending on how complicated their designs are.
“It’s a big commitment, but it gives them incredible experience in both construction and collection development,” Melville said. “The fashion show takes a huge amount of time and effort from so many of our students who work for months and months to make it happen, and then it’s all over in just one evening performance.”
Students drew their inspiration from life, history, stories or emotion. Mood boards helped define themes, and sketches narrowed down ideas to design plans. Fabrics were chosen, and patterns were created, revised and then final construction led to a garment.
Audience member and fashion student Lily Wroten said, “A lot of my classmates are designers for the show. They are really incredible. They did a fantastic job. Even the directors said the level of craftsmanship is really stellar.”
