May 14, 2024 — The 38th Annual Silver Needle Runway show dazzled the crowd inside McCann Arena as senior designer collections took center stage. The entirely student-produced event showcased innovation, collaboration and boundless creativity while also raising a record amount of funds of over $37,000 in ticket sales and $2,600 in donations for the SNR Enrichment Fund.

Reserved for the first Friday in May, the show is a year-round effort for fashion design and fashion show production students alike. With specific classes dedicated to the show’s production and countless experiential learning hours spent outside of the classroom, students build a unique portfolio of desirable industry skills.

Models walking on runway in SNR38 senior collections. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/Marist College.

“Our curriculum continues to respond to industry demands with skill sets that prepare our students for careers in the fashion industry,” Jennifer Finn, Chair of Marist Fashion Program. “This generation of students graduating from the Marist fashion program, whether they are studying fashion design or merchandising are poised to become our next generation of leaders.”

According to Rebecca DeFrancesco '24, the show’s Creative Director, SNR38’s theme, INTERLINKED, “invites people to let go of the tight control on their lives and embrace the broader concept of interconnectedness among us. The theme helps us recognize our community and the shared humanity in every person we encounter.”

Fashion students holding the 11th issue of Measure Magazine, Metanoia. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/Marist College.

For the SNR38 pre-show, the turf room was transformed into an exhibit that featured the junior collections of the senior designers, along with the virtual show and their promotion videos. In the rec gym, the Measure magazine launch party celebrated the release of its 11th issue, Metanoia.

“In total there are around 300 students participating in the production of this show, who are from all backgrounds and majors," said Juan-Manuel Olivera-Silvera, Silver Needle Faculty Director. "The show represents community, which is one of the pillars of Marist and the SNR class. It's getting everybody together and represents the spirit of Marist.”

See how SNR comes together behind the scenes.

Attendees enjoyed photo opportunities and had the chance to purchase items from senior designers at the MPorium retail pop-up. The presence of various experiential fashion classes at SNR38 highlights the program's robustness and diversity.

Styled by this year’s SNR directors, Dr. Jacqueline Reich, Dean of the School of Communication and the Arts, ended the show by presenting the 2024 Designer of the Year Award to Deanna McNally '24.

“This award celebrates the accomplishments of the one designer who best represents the pillars of the Marist College fashion and program innovation, sustainability, collaboration, and community,” said Dean Reich. “This year's winner impressed the judges with their technique, eye for color, use of upcycled fabric, and their ability to make the ordinary into extraordinary.”

For Deanna’s collection, “Collageable” she used textile manipulation to collage upcycled materials and scraps together, reflecting the commitment to sustainable practices that the fashion program embraces.

Dean Reich awarding designer of the year to Deanna McNally ’24 (holding award). Photo by Nelson Echeverria//Marist College.

“I am extremely honored to have received the designer of the year award,” said Deanna. “As someone who switched my major late, I had to commit an extra year to complete the design program. It is rewarding to have my commitment to the program and late nights spent creating my own fabric recognized.”

Meet all the SNR designers.

You can watch the full SNR38 show here.