The runway at Marymount University’s annual Portfolio in Motion (PIM) spring fashion show will soon unveil its newest collection. This year, the show promises a fresh atmosphere with new designs and a new venue. In the midst of vibrant designs, the runway will be filled with a model dressed in a canary yellow bustier and a flowing, floor-length hooded cape, followed by a series of flouncy halter dresses, structured jumpsuits, and retro bohemian styles evoking the spirit of the 1960s Flower Power movement.
Though it may feel like a scene from Paris Fashion Week, this is an annual tradition at Marymount University, where everything is meticulously planned. Students spend months sketching, revising, measuring, and sewing their designs to bring them to life on the runway. Students from various disciplines, including interior design, graphic and media design, and fashion merchandising, also contribute their creative expertise to ensure the show runs smoothly and is visually stunning.
Rebecca Moreno, a 2019 Marymount graduate, recalls her experience designing several pieces for the show, including a three-piece set with a corseted top, pants, and an overskirt. Now, as a member of Sondra Falk Couture in Las Vegas, a renowned bridal and formalwear atelier, she credits her time at PIM with helping to shape her career. “Everything that goes into Portfolio in Motion is all unique; it has to be 100% your own design,” says Moreno.
The event has traditionally drawn between 800 to 1,000 attendees, including influential figures from the D.C. area and established apparel designers. In past years, it has been held in the university’s gymnasium. However, this year marks a significant shift as PIM will take place at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City on May 3, 2025. Julia Ravindran, associate professor of fashion design and the show’s overseer for six years, explains that the move to a public space was intended to give the show a broader audience. Ravindran, a designer who previously worked for esteemed designers like Reem Acra and Bibhu Mohapatra, is excited about the exposure that this new venue will bring to the students and their work.
Each year, PIM showcases a different theme, and students spend the fall semester developing ideas for everything from color palettes to hair, makeup, and stage décor. The theme is voted on by students, with last year’s theme, “Soiree,” inspired by the atmosphere of a dinner party. This year’s theme, “Secret Garden,” promises to transform the runway into a lush, flower-filled environment, with greenery serving as the perfect backdrop to highlight the students’ designs.
An important part of the event is the “Designer of the Year” award, an industry figure who provides feedback and guidance to the students during the following day’s portfolio review. Past honorees have included major designers like Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors, and Tadashi Shoji. This year, the award will go to Nina McLemore, a D.C.-based designer known for creating professional business apparel for women. McLemore has also mentored a Marymount student who is currently interning at her flagship store in Chevy Chase.
For many students, the Portfolio in Motion show is more than just a graduation requirement; it is often the beginning of their professional careers. Ravindran highlights the importance of PIM as a capstone project that opens doors to internships and job opportunities. Alumni such as Monique Bryant, a 2017 graduate who now runs her own bridal studio, Alyssa Monique Bridal, in Orlando, have credited PIM with providing invaluable experience. Bryant notes that learning to navigate the various stages of fashion design, from sketching to meeting deadlines, has shaped her approach to business.
As PIM continues to evolve and expand its reach, it remains a powerful platform for young designers to showcase their talent and step into the fashion industry with confidence.
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