MICA Fashion Week Showcases Sustainable, Creative Designs

Student designers highlight themes of sustainability, rebellion, and functionality in two runway shows.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:12pm

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A high-contrast silkscreen print of a distressed, upcycled fashion item repeated in a grid, capturing the rebellious and sustainable spirit of MICA's student designers.MICA's Fashion Week showcases the creativity and innovation of student designers through vibrant, pop art-inspired runway presentations.Baltimore Today

Students at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) are preparing for their annual Fashion Week, where creative designs focused on sustainability, rebellion, and functionality will be showcased in two runway shows. The shows will feature designs from eight student designers, including Annie Knott, who is repurposing old materials and modernizing vintage styles, and Jung Ho Bae, who is creating functional, breathable clothing for skateboarders.

Why it matters

MICA's Fashion Week highlights the school's commitment to fostering sustainable and innovative design practices among its students. The event also provides a platform for young designers to showcase their talents and explore themes relevant to contemporary fashion and culture.

The details

The annual benefit fashion show, scheduled for April 17-18, will raise money for scholarships. This year's theme, 'Reclaim,' will feature designs from eight designers, including Annie Knott, who is repurposing old materials and modernizing vintage silhouettes and styles. On April 24-25, nine designers and about 80 models will take the stage for a multimedia fashion show titled 'Pantomime,' which will feature functional and breathable designs inspired by skateboarding culture.

  • The annual MICA Fashion Week is scheduled for April 17-18 and April 24-25, 2026.
  • The 'Reclaim' runway show will take place on April 17-18, 2026.
  • The 'Pantomime' multimedia fashion show will be held on April 24-25, 2026.

The players

Hope Simpara

A fashion designer and design educator at MICA.

Annie Knott

A student designer at MICA whose 'Reclaim' collection features repurposed and upcycled materials.

Jung Ho Bae

A student designer at MICA whose 'Pantomime' collection focuses on functional and breathable clothing for skateboarders.

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What they’re saying

“They're making garments. They're doing some research, iterating some of the concepts. At that point, they should've found their voice.”

— Hope Simpara, Fashion designer and design educator at MICA

“This is Ms. Marie Antoinette, and these two looks on the sides are opposing rebel characters.”

— Annie Knott, Student designer at MICA

“I'm a skateboarder, and I wanted to make clothes for skateboarders to wear comfortably while skateboarding.”

— Jung Ho Bae, Student designer at MICA

What’s next

Tickets for the MICA Fashion Week runway shows are available for purchase on the event website.

The takeaway

MICA's Fashion Week showcases the school's commitment to sustainable and innovative design practices, providing a platform for young designers to explore themes relevant to contemporary fashion and culture. The event highlights the creativity and talent of MICA's student designers, who are pushing the boundaries of traditional fashion through their use of repurposed materials, functional designs, and multimedia presentations.