On May 1, members of the Marymount community gathered in the Lee Center for the School of Design and Art’s 2026 Portfolio in Motion (PIM) fashion show, a student-run production celebrating creativity, collaboration and innovation in fashion design. This year’s theme, “Punk in Motion,” showcased a modern and dynamic interpretation of punk’s rebellious spirit.
“Inspired by punk’s history of self-expression, individuality, and breaking traditional fashion rules, ‘Punk in Motion’ showcases bold silhouettes, edgy details and innovative styling that reflect how punk continues to evolve today,” Marymount President Dr. Irma Becerra said during her opening remarks. “Each piece you see is a reflection of the skill and creativity of our students who are encouraged to push boundaries and collaborate across disciplines to create truly innovative designs.”
Co-directed by seniors Alisa Partik and Bridgette Callahan, the show featured nine distinct “scenes” inspired by different elements of punk culture, including “Couture Chaos,” “Metal Madness” and “Denim Destruction.” Student models walked the runway to punk-inspired music, capturing the movement’s signature energy, angst and defiance.
The show also highlighted pieces from the Marymount IKEA Woodbridge collaboration, in which students created garments using recycled IKEA materials. The designs reimagined punk through a modern lens, challenging mainstream fashion norms while emphasizing sustainability throughout the creative process.
President Becerra continued her longstanding tradition of joining students on the runway, gliding across the catwalk in a gown designed by junior Erika Volareva. The evening concluded with collections from four graduating senior designers: Marco Rivas, Esther Lee, Hazel Villafranco Iraheta and Thomas Le.
Villafranco Iraheta said her collection, “Soft Inheritance,” was inspired by her Salvadoran roots and the strong women in her family.
“I themed each of my pieces off of a different family member, mainly my mom, my grandmother and my cousin,” Villafranco Iraheta said. “I tried to capture each of their different personalities and styles in individual looks, while making sure to also keep the whole collection cohesive.”
Similarly, designer Thomas Le drew inspiration from his Vietnamese roots for his “A Love Letter to My Childhood” collection, composed of five áo dàis, or traditional Vietnamese split tunics worn over silk pants.
“The áo dàis are such a symbol of femininity and home to me,” Le explained. “I really wanted to create my own version of them that fuses American and Vietnamese culture together to better mirror my own personal experience.”
Following the runway show, Marymount fashion design faculty presented the Distinguished Creative Leader Award to alumnus Jeffery Wilkins ’12, Vice President of Visuals for the Americas at Gucci and co-founder of the Marymount Black Alumni Club.
“I am deeply humbled to be back at Marymount accepting this award among so many talented designers and professionals,” Wilkins said. “Marymount made me who I am, and I firmly believe in the importance of coming back and giving back to the community that shaped me.”
Additional awards recognized outstanding student achievement, with Villafranco Iraheta receiving the Portfolio in Motion Award and Esther Lee earning the Academic Excellence in Fashion Design Award.
After the show, attendees were invited to explore the first-ever “Shopping in Motion” marketplace in the Lee Center lobby, featuring products and designs from student- and alumni-owned businesses.
“We are so proud of all of the hard work and dedication our students have put into making this show amazing,” said Julia Ravindran, Associate Professor of Fashion Design. “Their work embodies the excellence and innovation that are hallmarks of a Marymount education.”
