DAAP’s Annual Fashion Show

The University of Cincinnati’s DAAP program will host its annual fashion show April 25

Right before the seniors of the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) program head out into the real world, their designs head out on the runway for the annual DAAP fashion show. This year, the event will take place Friday, April 25, and promises to be a sell-out show as it has many times in the past.

“The DAAP show began 63 years ago,” says Laurie Lisk Wilson, producer of the DAAP Fashion show. “It began solely as a showcase of student works, but has grown in popularity. Plus the status of Macy’s as our presenting sponsor has truly elevated the amazing creations of our fashion design/product development students by putting their designs on the runway in front of 1,500 attendees!”

Wilson, who became associated with DAAP when she was with Mercantile Stores back in the early 90s, started as a juror for the student critiques in the DAAP fashion show. Then, she quickly became the show’s producer after the previous producer retired. “I knew I had to produce this show because it was truly some of the most unabashed fashion creativity I had ever experienced,” she says. “I was in awe of the talent coming from the students and am always so honored to put it on the runway the way it should be shown.”

The DAAP fashion show, which will be held at the Campus Recreation Center on UC’s campus at 7:30 p.m., features more than 90 UC DAAP designers as well as the seniors’ thesis collections and some outstanding underclassmen projects. “Attendees can expect to experience the essence of pure fashion creativity presented professionally on 40 plus models as if they were sitting in the audiences of Paris, New York or Milan,” she explains. Tickets will be sold at four levels, $40, $50, $100 and $150.

While there will be several fashionable creations featured in the fashion show, the garments will not be for sale because they are one-of-a-kind creations by the students. “They are like babies to them, however, many designers have been hired to make special garments after the show for individuals once the designer’s personal design talent has been showcased,” she says.

Since the beginning of the DAAP Fashion show 63 years ago, the show has grown exponentially, according to Wilson. The show itself has changed venues several times before calling its current venue home. Wilson believes that they have finally found the best place to put on the fashion showcase. “This space we have now we can transform it into a one-of-a-kind showcase for fashion and seat 1,500 persons,” she says, “Our show has been put on Cincinnati’s bucket list by Cincinnati Magazine as one of the top 50 things you must do in Cincinnati before you die!”

What will be new in the show this year? According to Wilson everything will be new. “That is what amazing about this show. You have to keep coming back to see what is new, what is next,” she explains. “This year, we will be featuring lighting by The College Conservatory of Music with their set and lighting designers taking on this project to take it to a new level. It is wonderful when it can become a learning and growth opportunity for all. We are very excited about this alliance going forward.”

To learn more, click here. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning on March 15.