The runway was alive with fresh looks and innovative designs, highlighting student work at the 11th annual Atelier Fashion Show at St. Clair College.
Dozens of students in second year of the Fashion Design Technician program created three-look collections as part of their capstone project. They worked all semester on product development, tech packs, production and marketing to create their original collections.
Imperium Couture designer Sajiya Patel poses with models at the Atelier Fashion Show at St. Clair College on April 26, 2025. (Source: Ted Kloske)
While the Atelier Fashion Show on April 26, 2025, was a fabulous display of creativity across the board, a handful of students had collections that impressed a panel of industry judges, including Sajiya Patel, who was the first-place winner of the 2025 Atelier Emerging Designer Award, sponsored by PAD System.
Patel is the visionary designer behind 'Imperium Couture,' a brand redefining luxury with timeless elegance and modern innovation. A 2025 graduate of St. Clair College's Fashion Design program, Patel fuses haute couture, architectural inspiration, and fashion history to craft pieces that embody sophistication and empowerment. You can view her website here.
"I cannot explain how I'm feeling right now. It's all mixed feelings, I have no words," Patel said after the show.
Judges were impressed with her designs, which featured 3D printed bodices perfectly sculpted to fit the models.
Patel was first introduced to the St. Clair College 3D printing lab at the Ford Centre for Excellence in Manufacturing in her first year of school during a fabric science course. Students had an introductory project to create 3D printed buttons, which led to Patel's interest in challenging herself to create a 3D printed strapless bustier for her collection.
She utilized 3D printing techniques to create a strapless gold bustier, along with a one-of-a-kind hand-sculpted metallic one-shoulder bodice inspired by molten lava textures that coordinated with a 30-panel black satin ball skirt.
"I have been through a lot while making this whole collection. It has been a long process for me," Patel said, noting the feedback on her designs was all positive. "'Oh my God, it was stunning.' That was what everyone was saying to me today. It's like, fabulous, excellent, breaths taken away."
The second-place prize went to Krishnendu Mohanan and Elizabeth Trudell secured third place in the competition. The top three finishers split a $1,000 cash prize from PAD System.
The Telio Foundation also presented the Telio Impact Award to a student who demonstrates passion and commitment toward social value and environmental impact in fashion design.
This year's winner of the Telio Impact award was Lojain Alsayyed.
"I've learned you don't have to be afraid of breaking the rules, because sometimes, when something goes wrong, it'll be like a blessing in disguise," said Alsayyed after the show. "I found that some of my mistakes, almost turned out really good, and it looked great. Resilience is key, for sure."
The Atelier Fashion Show is directed and produced by faculty members Elaine Chatwood, Dee-Dee Shkreli and Lori Moore.
"It is a proud and emotional moment as a professor when you see all your student's designs on the runway," said Prof. Chatwood. "What started off as ideas, then developed and edited into a cohesive three-look collection is an extraordinary thing to be part of, as the student cultivates their skills to prepare them for the industry."
Chatwood notes that industry employers attend and recruit from the show, and many previous students have been hired with this connection.
The annual show is a collaborative effort with the SCC Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Esthetician, Hairstyling and Culinary programs.
Partial ticket sales go towards the Student's Fashion Club for future industry field trips.
"All the models, judges, hair and make-up stylists volunteer to make the show possible and we could not do it without our amazing students," said Chatwood.
All of the participating fashion designers' websites can be viewed online at www.stclaircollege.ca/atelier.
