Paula Wallace founded the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1978. Today, she serves as its president, and has played a key role in expanding the university’s recognition globally and spearheading its growth. Recently, the university launched SCAD FASHWKND replete with a shop-the-runway element. We caught up with Wallace on FASHWKND, the importance of see-now, buy-now, fashion education in a shifting fashion landscape, and the value of professional career coaches, which, according to the school, results in 98 percent employment of SCAD alumni post-graduation.
What inspired you to do FASHWKND?
SCAD exists entirely for its students, and I’m always thinking about maximizing their opportunities. When I hear from alumni working in the fashion world — Lanvin to Ralph Lauren, Vogue to GQ — I always ask for their take on what’s needed, what’s next. I’ve heard a common refrain about the changing dynamics in how fashion is consumed, both in real-time presentations and the retail experience. These considerations, along with growing enrollment in SCAD’s preeminent fashion programs across our Savannah, Atlanta and Hong Kong campuses, made for the perfect moment to inaugurate SCAD FASHWKND, amplifying our 20-year tradition of hosting the SCAD Fashion Show. With experience in multiple fashion show formats, SCAD students have real professional advantage post-graduation.
The shop-the-runway aspect of SCAD FASHWKND was a deliberate tie to the SCAD luxury and fashion management degree program, as well as jewelry and accessories, which are separate majors at SCAD. Shop-the-runway gave us an opportunity to share with the fashion crowd the success of our SCAD alumni in footwear, jewelry, clothing, and other areas integral to fashion.
How important is it to encourage see-now, buy-now at the senior student level?
Direct-to-consumer is a prevailing conversation in the fashion world right now. Any time you see a major shift in an industry’s value points, it’s worth paying attention.
Employers want young professionals who know the ins and outs of business, and a grasp of different modes of operation is vital to a fashion résumé these days. SCAD students explore enduring and emerging models in courses like “Business of Fashion” and “Trends and Forecasting,” analyzing case studies, creating mock websites, and conceptualizing new fashion lines to learn how to adjust production for evolving retail models, like see-now, buy-now.
SCAD added a shop-the-runway experience to our highly lauded SCAD FASHWKND. Patrons enthusiastically responded to the onsite opportunity to purchase a little SCAD magic for themselves. One guest bought a Caroline Mae confection to wear to a summer wedding, and shoe designer Michael Grey sold out several styles of his popular handmade sandals.
What is your education philosophy and how is it shifting as the fashion landscape evolves?
I’ve always believed that education is about teaching students rather than subjects. Students entrust us with their most precious possession — their time. It’s our responsibility to prepare them, as people and professionals, for their successful future.
In some ways, education responds to the fashion landscape. But primarily, education leads the profession. We constantly study what’s out there in the professional world, and bring bold-face names to SCAD to educate our students. SCAD Career and Alumni Success (CAS) is highly attuned to the needs, future needs, and priorities of business and of the creative minds of SCAD students.
What was your favorite memory of the SCAD FASHWKND?
SCAD FASHWKND is highly professional in every way. We kicked off SCAD FASHWKND’s main events with the runway show outside the SCAD Museum of Art on Friday evening, May 19. A cool breeze danced through the courtyard, pulsing with the beats of SCAD alumnus Helado Negro and animating the swimsuits, gowns, coats, capes, jumpsuits, and other garments of our senior student collections as models owned the catwalk. I was struck by the immensity of the moment, so life-affirming for our students — a crowning achievement in their emerging careers. Their pride in their work and in their peers said it all, as did the standing-room-only attendance. We have a hit on our hands, and the tradition continues.
One moment that was fun to observe: when student bridal gowns drove down the runway in sponsor Rolls-Royce’s pearl-colored “Dawn Inspired by Fashion,” two students in the audience looked at each other, high-fived, and said in sync, “That’s so SCAD.”
