Carnegie Mellon Lunar Gala designers to sell garments through digital pop-up shop
Carnegie Mellon University student designers planned to host a sale of their Lunar Gala collections at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Oakland.
The coronavirus pandemic prevented that.
They found a way to sell the one-of-a-kind garments from the student-run annual fashion show. The Lunar Gala Digital Pop-Up Shop will be open Aug. 17-19.
Style412, a non-profit dedicated to the Pittsburgh fashion industry which provided area experts as mentors for the Lunar Gala held Feb. 29, will be hosting the online sale. The Lunar Gala committee plans to host an in-person show in 2021.
Style412 executive director Elysia Newman said she wanted to help the designers feature their collections. It will be done through Style412’s Instagram stories. Customers can purchase through PayPal or Venmo. There will be a time schedule for when each designer’s collection.
“The past Lunar Gala shows I have attended I always see pieces I want to buy,” said Newman, who lives in Stanton Heights. “These designers are our future. They are emerging talent with amazing designs.”
Designer Michael Powell, of Peters, a recent graduate in the school of architecture, co-produced the runway show. He co-designed a line with fellow school of architecture graduate Selena Zhen of Fort Winona Lake, Ind. Their collection “Coated” has traditional coats with fringe details.
“The virtual sale is a way to make the best of a not go great situation,” Powell said. “It will still give designers a chance to sell their pieces. And it has the possibility of reaching a broader audience outside of Pittsburgh and help get some of the money back the students spent making the apparel.”
Ashley Burbano, a junior from Long Island N.Y., studying design environments designed a collection, “Losing Control.” It’s based off of her allowing herself to let go and enjoy the making of the garments versus being constrained and boring, she said.
“It was definitely scary, but I am really looking forward to the sale because this is such a great opportunity, and the fact it is tied in with Style412 that means a lot because they are connected with the fashion community in Pittsburgh,” Burbano said.
She incorporated faux fur with recycled fabrics, which included contacting area designers for any extra pieces of material. She sold a few of the pieces she made for last year’s show.
“It feels good to see people wearing your designs on Instagram,” she said. “I value the garment and now I see someone else values it too.”
Suzanne Mauro, Style412 Lunar Gala mentorship coordinator, said digital catwalk shows have heralded as the answer to covid-19 restrictions. She said working with the Lunar Gala designers is always inspirational and that she often finds items she wants to add to her wardrobe.
She helped the students determine pricing and sizing for each piece.
“As an up-and-coming designer you must find solutions to stay connected with your customers and future clients,” Mauro said. “Creating digital engaging content is key now and having this pop-up for all up-and-coming designers is creating an environment for them to thrive in.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people and a weekly column about things to do in Pittsburgh. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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