As the spring semester winds down in the city, most students are preparing for a long summer break. For Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) students, however, this time also brings an opportunity to show off their final projects. Over the past year, the Institute’s creative minds have been working on countless different projects, and they are ready to showcase them to the world.
MIAD is gearing up to host its first ever Spring Fashion Showcase on Thursday May 7 at 6:30 p.m., in conjunction with the 2026 Senior Exhibition. The inaugural showcase will consist of Juniors and Seniors and will also feature pieces from the Fashion and Apparel Design Major, which launched in 2023 and as the college’s newest major. You can expect to see a wide range, including ready-to-wear pieces, streetwear costumes and cosplay.
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Senior Bailey Staerkel from Oshkosh explained how she used Gothic horror to create couture looks: “My collection takes inspiration from the historical period of the height of Gothic literature, with oversized 19th-century sleeves, Victorian corsetry and structural garments, and matching period-appropriate accessories.”
Staerkel was inspired by her Service Learning last year at Skylight Music Theatre, where she worked on the production of Frankenstein the Musical. “At the same time, I was taking a leatherworking class at MIAD, and having both of those experiences at the same time got me thinking about how I might represent a character like Frankenstein’s monster in clothing through the use of leather.” she says.
The showcase will be held on the MIAD campus at 273 East Erie St., Milwaukee, on floor three. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are being sold at different prices, with VIP (priority viewing) tickets going for $50. The general community can buy tickets for $30, while anyone in the MIAD community can go to the show for $10. You can purchase tickets on the MIAD website.
