Philadelphia University students debut collections at New York Fashion Week

Two Philadelphia University senior fashion design students presented spring 2017 collections Saturday at the FG Designers Premier during New York Fashion Week.

The fashion show is sponsored by Fashion Gallery, which produces runway presentations for emerging designers.  Fashion Gallery events -- about 20 to 25 during the week -- appear on the official Fashion Week calendar published by the Council of Fashion Designers.

The FG Designers Premier show gives students the opportunity to participate in what is, for many, their first professional show. Several of the participants have gotten private commissions as a result.  Philadelphia University faculty have sent students to each Fashion Week presentation since 2015.

This year's Philly U collections came from Maria Balestino and Ashlee Bowers.

Bowers' athleticwear collection was inspired by a mixed-media New York-based art installation called The Boscar Project.  Bowers used color and geometric patterns to create easy-to-wear pieces designed to empower women

Balestino's collection, "Iron Illumination," was inspired by armor, grisaille windows, and illuminated manuscripts of medieval history. The pieces, a collection of ethereal dresses and pantaloons, were fashioned from silk organza, lambskin leather and metallic-threaded woven fabrics.