Marymount University’s commitment to sustainable design took center stage last week as students, faculty and staff gathered in the As-Is section of IKEA Woodbridge for the debut of the Marymount x IKEA Upcycled Fashion exhibit. Now in its second year, the collaboration highlights creative approaches to sustainability by transforming discarded materials into high-fashion garments.
The project tasked nine students from the Marymount School of Design and Art with creating cocktail dresses made entirely from items found in IKEA’s As-Is department—everything from curtains and duvets to throw pillows and upholstery textiles. Students were also required to incorporate IKEA branding, colors or logos into their final designs.
“I’m so proud of all of our students who worked so hard to put this together,” said Raia Kaouk, Adjunct Professor of Fashion Design overseeing the project. “They really went above and beyond to create pieces that are both beautiful and sustainable for this exhibit.”
Beginning in September, students developed sketches and inspiration boards before visiting IKEA to select recycled materials for their designs.
Junior Jerea Beckwith said she drew inspiration from classic Disney aesthetics.
“I have always loved Cinderella and as soon as I saw the royal blue curtain at IKEA, I knew I had to create something that was inspired by her. I wanted to create something modern and sexy, but that was also simple and sophisticated,” she said.
For junior Logan Voigt, who participated in last year’s inaugural exhibit, the challenge of using unconventional materials was part of the appeal.
“Oftentimes, the fabrics you find at IKEA are upholstery fabrics that are a bit harder to work with. But working with more challenging fabrics forces you to be more creative about how you approach and execute your design.”
Voigt used a black-and-pink blackout curtain to create an edgy, colorblocked cocktail dress inspired by “leather jackets, Bratz and Monster High dolls.”
While putting the finishing touches on their garments, students received an unexpected visit from former First Lady Michelle Obama and Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts. During the encounter, the student designers had the opportunity to showcase their creativity and discuss the importance of sustainability in fashion, an unforgettable moment that underscored the impact of their work.
The finished garments were installed at IKEA Woodbridge on November 25, where they will remain on display through the New Year. Nine students displayed their garments alongside fashion design alumna Jennifer Gause ’05, a visual merchandiser at IKEA Woodbridge. Junior Alina Mihailescu, who created an asymmetrical gown featuring hand-crafted couture flowers from a curtain, said seeing her work showcased publicly was a meaningful milestone.
“Seeing strangers stop and look at my design and see my name and read about my inspiration is such a joy. Before this I had never worked with unconventional fabrics or limited materials, but it was so amazing to be able to give these pieces new life and create something people can enjoy.”
IKEA Woodbridge representatives said the exhibit reflects a shared mission to champion sustainability through creativity and community engagement.
“We are so excited to host this exhibit for the second year and celebrate talented, local designers,” said Wendy Rogers, Public Relations and Marketing Manager at IKEA Woodbridge. “Sustainability is one of the company’s most important pillars and this project highlights that so well. It is so inspiring to see students transform our waste into beautiful, up-cycled designs.”
