Vancouver Fashion Week’s SS25 Opening Night, ‘Alex in Wonderland: The 10th Anniversary,’ was a proud moment for Blanche Macdonald Centre. Of the six designers who lit up the runway on opening night, five were graduates of the Fashion Design Program, invited by headliner Alex S. Yu. The celebrated Fashion Designer and Senior Fashion Instructor captivated the audience with The Prologue 3688, his stunning 10th collection, proving once again the incredible talent emerging from our programs. Nail Program Instructor Miz Wang created some killer nails for Bahar Kianpour’s Déjà Vu. And to top it all off, our very own fashion ninja, Executive Director of Fashion Design Tyler Udall, received the Creative Innovation Award, presented by Fashion Department Career Director Melanie Watts.
In this VFW SS25 recap, we celebrate all eight Blanche Macdonald graduates who showed over the week: Alex S. Yu, Emma Ireland Shepherd, Mia Hanaoka, Bahar Kianpour, Bree Laryea, Miguel Estilong, Deion Ramos and Carol Botelho.
“Nothing short of magical! Alex curated a production that felt like an epic journey—video art, introducing emerging designers, showcasing incredible live performers, and ultimately setting the stage for his much-anticipated EPIC collection!” - Tyler Udall
Alex S. Yu
Alex takes us down the rabbit hole, describing The Prologue 3688: “ALEX S. YU debuted at Vancouver Fashion Week on September 17, 2014. The tenth-anniversary show will take place on October 22, 2024, marking exactly 3,688 days since the brand’s debut. The Prologue 3688 introduces a reimagined universe for the ALEX S. YU brand. ALEX S. YU creates contemporary womenswear for the everydaydreamer. The brand is divided into two distinct lines: Everyday and Daydreamer.”
Bahar Kianpour
“Déjà Vu explores the emotional journey of a boy trapped in his memories and nightmares,” Bahar says of her latest collection. “Each piece tells a story from his past—times of happiness, sorrow, dreams, and heartbreak. The designs reflect his struggle to escape the endless loop of déjà vu, with some pieces feeling light and free, while others feel heavy and constrained, symbolizing the boy’s conflict between hope and despair.”
Emma Ireland Shepherd
Emma describes Love Letters to Girlhood as “A collection of clothing dedicated to strong women and inspired by the beautiful aspects of their girlhood. Unveiling my collection Love Letters to Girlhood at Vancouver Fashion Week was a true highlight of my career so far. Every piece is a tribute to nostalgia, growth, and femininity, made possible by the incredible foundation I gained at Blanche Macdonald and the New York Fashion Institute of Technology.”
Runway footage from @guangmingfoto
Mia Hanaoka
“I didn’t have any good experiences at Japanese school,” Mia says, describing her inspiration for her debut collection, which focuses on the rarefied experience of school through the lens of teenagers, between youth and adulthood. “But I had so much fun at Blanche, so it was awesome. That’s the reason I decided to use the school uniform as a theme—so many unnecessary rules. I say break the rules!”
Runway footage from @guangmingfoto
Bree Laryea
“My collection was not just a showcase of style—it was an invitation to explore a new dimension of self-awareness through thoughtful, artful design,” says Bree. “I graduated from Blanche in February 2024 and truly had the most phenomenal year of my life,” says Bree. “It’s amazing what you can learn when you apply yourself. My instructors truly mean more than anything to me – Alex, Evan, Peggy, Lisa, + Emma. I cannot thank them enough – they will be with me in my art forevermore.”
The World of Outlaws
Fashion Marketing Graduates Miguel Estilong and Deion Ramos, part of the fashion collective The World of Outlaws, explain the inspiration behind their debut collection at VFW SS25: “RUN FOR THE HILLS is about our journey of self-discovery, blending personal history with a modern take on classic silhouettes. It’s our way of expressing identity and resilience in each piece. Blanche Macdonald gave us the foundation to turn that vision into reality, from mastering runway production to understanding industry standards. Our time there introduced us to the industry in a meaningful way, equipping us with the tools and confidence to bring Outlaws to life.”
Carol Botelho
Fashion Marketing student Carol Botelho shares Dress Cozy’s roots: “The inspiration behind my collection was my dad. He was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, and I wanted to honour his cultural roots through every look, the energy of the models, the music, and the video introduction. I wouldn’t have been there without Tais and Mel—they believed I could pull off a full collection in just 17 days and gave me the support I needed every step of the way. Seeing Miss Peggy, Selena, my sustainability teacher (and mentor) Maya and Tais in the front row cheering me on, and then receiving such warm feedback, was absolutely priceless.”
Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design + Vancouver Fashion Week Partnership
Each year, the top 3 outstanding Fashion Design graduates are recognized with an Emerging Designer of the Year Award and they receive their own debut collection at Vancouver Fashion Week.
