Musicians DJ’s and Models Avalon Lurks, Julien Crane, MAAD, and Saturn Risin9 photographed by Mynxii White modeling SCAD’s 2024 graduating collections from Anthony Perez, Kagan McCurnin, Madz Cornett, Rakee Chen, Ran Lu, Sze Yau Ng, Xiaoxiao Zhang, and Yutong Zhao.
Yutong Zhao
For most of my life, I’ve frequently experienced feelings of entrapment and control. Out of Inferno reflects my experience of feeling confined, yearning to escape the prison of security. Like a bird in a cage, I feel restricted by my parents’ control, despite my desire for independence.
Similarly, society oPen remains in comfort zones to avoid challenges.
This metaphorical cage represents the safety and predictability that many cling to, fearing the uncertainties of the outside world. Breaking free from these societal confines is essential for realizing one’s full potential and embracing the opportunities that lie beyond the familiar.
Kagan McCurnin
Julien Crane wears Kagan McCurnin
Inspired by the dark beauty in Edgar Allan Poe’s poetry, Poe is a womenswear collection that not only captures the tone but depicts an edgy twist using an amalgamation of tartan textiles and a modern take on Edwardian trends created in each garment.
By reflecting myself through name and heritage, this series gave a Mississippi girl a glimpse into her abilities to achieve her dreams in a world of possibilities she never imagined.
Xiaoxiao Zhang
Avalon Lurks wears Xiaoxiao Zhang
My collection, Under the Curtains, began with an interview with myself. I hoped to beHer understand what has shaped me into the person I am today, and who I aspire to be. Inspired by music and art, I have a deep interest in the avant-garde, which heavily influences my aesthetic.
With music, punk is the best way to express my inner feelings.
The fearlessness of the punk spirit is closely related to the extroverted self I want to be again. This collection seeks to balance these two facets of myself—a calm, unassuming yet decisive and bold equilibrium.
Sze Yau Ng
Saturn Risin9 wears Sze Yau Ng
My collection, AMBER, was named after my mum, my muse and entire inspiration for this collection. With this collection I sought to challenge societal norms dictating what women should or should not wear, aiming to break the definitions of how society always frames the “appropriate” clothing for women. I also incorporated elements from 1950s and 1970s fashion, along with creative PVC loop draping throughout my collection.
AMBER reflects my ideas of self-expression and encouraging women to be themselves!
Madz Cornett
Julien Crane wears Madz Cornett
My collection, Preserve the Purloined, is a twisted art heist tale, in which a female curator falls in love with the muse in Frederic Leighton’s 1895 painting ‘Flaming June.’
Consumed by passion, the curator desires the serene beauty of the painting’s subject. To possess her, she seduces a new security guard, ensnaring her in a web of lies. This heist symbolizes the curator’s reclaiming of feminine strength and beauty. I wanted this collection to display a tale that alludes to dangerous love.
Anthony Perez
TREK explores the idea of people’s personalities being built by the places that influenced them.
I used inspiration from the locations that left an impact on me like Texas, where my grandparents came from, and the Chicago area where they had moved, and where I grew up. This combines cowboy and urban aesthetics along with military-inspired design built for travel.
Each look created the visual of a nomad that had picked up the different traits from the places they had traveled. It was important to me to show the fusion of cultures which is indicative of America itself.
Rakee Chen
Saturn Risin9 wears Rakee Chen
My design inspiration comes from the fusion of Renaissance art and electronic music. I coded a music program that generates patterns based on sound, creating these organic prints. I’m looking forward to collaborating with more music artists and integrating new designs into my brand, Schnabbit.
My experiences have shaped my style, and many have said that this collection, The Era, echoes elements of Dune, which is because my background in costume design and love for film influenced me to create accessories like masks and speakers, which reminds me of my days in art direction on film sets.
Ran Lu
Avalon Lurks wears Ran Lu
As technology continues to advance and cities continue to expand, the original balance of nature is disrupted. When approaching this collection, I observed an unbreakable boundary between urban buildings and the natural environment.
My concept is that human beings should act as an intermediary between nature and the city: contributing more to the planet’s ecological atmosphere and achieving a balance between human beings and nature.
For Symbiosis, I took inspiration from Zaha Hadid, and used 3D printing technology to create aesthetics and silhouettes, and used knitting techniques to mimic the character of the plants for the garments.
Models: Avalon Lurks. Julien Crane. MAAD. Saturn Risin9.
Photography: Mynxii White
Stylist: Jules Wood
Hair & Makeup: Rachael Vang using Anastasia of Beverly Hills, Mob Beauty, Shiseido
Casting: BJ Panda Bear
Produced by Ian Scott Dorey
Location: Zana Bayne
Special Thanks Zana Bayne
