Saturday marked the end of Fashion Week Columbus (FWC). Running from Sept. 14-20, events ranging from the High Fashion Tea to the Nurtur Aveda Institute's Recycled Runway culminated in a beautiful display of fabrics, colors and silhouettes.
Held at the Hilton Columbus Downtown – 402 N High St – Saturday's event was filled with avant-garde, inspirational and whimsical pieces. This year’s event featured five designers: Sammy B, Tiraj Lucas, Candace Walker, Jasmine Burton, Xantha Ward and Juan Jose Saenz-Ferreyros.
The 16th Annual Finale Runway Show presented a diverse array of talent, with designers transforming personal journeys and experiences into wearable art.
ALEXANDRIA JAY: Jasmine Burton
For designer Jasmine Burton, the runway served as a narrative to tell her personal story. Alexandria Jay, her brand and collection, is a continuation of a milestone she hit last year, retelling her experience with postpartum depression.
“So I did [the theme] last year, and it went from dark to light after I had my baby,” Burton said. “It was like darkness and stuff, and then I gradually got back into fashion, and it's more light, and this year, still talking about postpartum depression, it's more edgy...”
This year Burton featured jumpsuits, pants and gowns, compared to the collection of only gowns she had last year.
“I have a black piece and I have a red piece, and they're walking out together. And so she's [black dress] like a shadow of it [red dress]. And the dresses are the same,” Burton said.
There’s a strong representation that’s being illustrated about struggles coming back from depression and the process of reintegration and recovery. As a trained dancer from the ages of 3 to 26, Burton’s path to fashion began in high school before she further honed her skills at the Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD).
Her main message to the audience was one of resilience and patience:
“When you have a baby and you go through postpartum depression, just push through it, fight through it, and you'll come out into the light.”
FERREYROS LIFE: Juan Jose Saenz-Ferreyros
Whereas Burton’s designs were more introspective, Juan Jose Saenz-Ferreyros looked outward, drawing from recent visits to Spain and Portugal. His collection was a vibrant love letter to the colors and textures from his travels.
“Yes, my inspiration was in my last travel to Europe. One month ago [I went] to Spain, Portugal, Morocco, France. So when I go to Spain, especially Barcelona and Portugal…the fashion is totally different than USA. So when I [went], many of my dresses were ready. When I enter in Spain, I change my mind, and I buy many fabrics, materials. And when [I] returned to the USA, I started a completely new collection about Spain and Portugal. This is my inspiration.”
While his current work is European-inspired with elaborate hairpieces and accessories, Saenz-Ferreyros’s Peruvian heritage remains a constant, colorful thread in all his designs.
“Yes, all the time when I prepare my collections is about my travels. But…when I make the collection, [there] is something that might [include] my Peru, my country,” Saenz-Ferreyros said.
As big of an international designer as he is, it is inspirational to see that he still brings his art back to his own culture and identity.
Grateful for the opportunities he has found abroad, Saenz-Ferreyros said that his designs touch people in many countries with many stories.
“I really like presenting [my] collection here in USA. I like travel, so I investigate in other countries, and I like presenting here,” Saenz-Ferreyros said. “I am Peruvian — USA is not my country, but I am all the time say[ing] thank you so much for USA [since they] open doors for me.”
“Yes, this is why I [design] all the time and consider [myself] an international designer. Yes, I am Peruvian, yet all the time I say I am international designer for I touch many different countries.”
From Jasmine Burton’s intimate portrait of maternal strength to Saenz-Ferreyros’s celebratory global fusion, the runway was a reminder that behind every beautiful material, fabric and piece of clothing you see, the hours of time and effort put into creating a design has identity, memories, dreams and aspirations.
The FWC finale solidified not just trends for the coming season, but the enduring role of fashion as a medium for connection, healing and cultural dialogue.
