Fashion Design and Management Students Explore Identity, Tradition, and Functionality on the Runway

The designers presented selections from their collections at the latest edition of Feria Seniors.

By Institutional Communications

Five students from the Fashion Design and Management program at Universidad del Sagrado Corazón presented selections from their fashion collections during a runway show held as part of the latest edition of Feria Seniors, one of Puerto Rico’s largest college-planning experiences for high school students.

According to Professor Auralís Herrero Lugo, from the Fashion Design and Management program in the School of Arts, Design, and Creative Industries (EADIC, per its acronym in Spanish), the designers were selected because their work represents the essence of the bachelor’s degree program: a focus on prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear garments), sustainability, problem-solving through design, and aesthetics representative of Puerto Rico while maintaining an international perspective. The group included third- and fourth-year students Adriana Isadora Quiñones, Valeria Rivera, Leopoldo Tovar, and Carolina Colón, as well as Diego Colón, one of the program’s first graduates since it was established in 2022. Each student presented an original concept developed throughout their time in the program at Sagrado.

Pieces designed by Carolina Colón, a fourth-year student.

Ariana Isadora Quiñones presented selections from her collection, “Crianza en casa de abuela para los 2000s,” inspired by the nostalgia evoked by her childhood experiences. As a central element, the designer drew inspiration from the ironwork grilles found on many traditional homes in Puerto Rico. Quiñones describes her collection as a cultural appreciation rooted in her upbringing, incorporating linen and cotton, natural fabrics chosen for their softness, freshness, and practicality in the Caribbean.

Details inspired by the ironwork grilles found on many Puerto Rican homes can be seen in the vest buttons and skirt pattern.

Third-year student Valeria Rivera Negrón presented “El tumbao’ no se pierde,” a collection that explores Caribbean identity and the exchange and reinterpretation of influences that shape its culture.

“One of the main sources of inspiration came from a conversation with my grandmother. We were talking about a time when Japanese artists began to embrace salsa and interpret it within their own context. We were fascinated by how a genre so closely tied to the Caribbean and Latin culture could travel, be adopted by another culture, and take on new characteristics without losing the essence that allowed people to recognize it as salsa,” the designer explained.

From there, she analyzed the influences and characteristics of clothing from that period, as well as garments made by her grandmother while attending vocational school, which became references for the collection. “Details such as fabric-covered buttons, cleaner cuts, and certain construction techniques she learned during that time are reinterpreted in my designs,” she stated.

The collection prominently features dyeing techniques, which allowed Rivera Negrón to transform the fabric and give each piece its own identity, while cotton added a natural quality to the garments.

Fourth-year student Leopoldo Tovar also presented his collection, “Roam Archive,” inspired by versatility, functionality, and minimalism. For the designer, the collection seeks to capture the essence of the wearer’s adventures, allowing the clothing itself to tell the story.

“It was created for those who constantly move between the energy of the city and nature, with convertible designs that transform to provide maximum comfort and versatility in any situation. More than simple garments, it seeks to be a functional and living reflection of your experiences as time goes by,” he said.

The collection was developed in a black-and-white color palette to maximize the versatility of the pieces, with black ripstop as the primary material. The fabric is commonly used in outdoor garments because of its durability.

The collections presented at this event showcase the talent and creative abilities that students in the Fashion Design and Management program develop throughout their journey at the School of Arts, Design, and Creative Industries. In keeping with sustainability as part of Sagrado’s educational model, students are trained in best practices in ethical and sustainable fashion while developing their entrepreneurial skills to create design-driven solutions for the fashion industry.

Learn more about the Fashion Design and Management program at www.sagrado.edu/en/moda.

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