2026 Senior Exhibition Artists 2026 Senior Exhibition Artists: Emma Gardner

About Emma Gardner

Emma is a fashion design student whose clothes strive to honor the complex experience of being a modern woman. She has a passion for bringing together diverse elements of a woman’s personality into one garment. In doing so, she strives to create clothes that embody the complexity of women’s experiences and perspectives, including the complex ways women define themselves. She is also developing skills in technical design using Illustrator, focusing on creating tech packs, and producing the detailed specifications needed to translate a creative concept into a production-ready garment.

Statement

For my senior collection I was inspired by sportswear from the 1920s to the 1940s, particularly football, along with baseball, boxing, and ballet uniforms. I was drawn to the volume, stripes, leather, lace-up details, and strong silhouettes that defined early athletic wear. The concept centers on contrast: pairing soft, fluid elements like pink chiffon and ballet-inspired silhouettes with heavier materials such as cowhide and structured leather, creating a dynamic tension between delicacy and strength. In bringing these opposing elements together in one garment, I am honoring the complexity of women’s experience, which ranges from frilly and conventionally feminine to more rugged and athletic. Art and design have always been an important cornerstone of my life. This passion evolved into a career where I am fortunate enough to design what I love.

Website: gardnere1744.wixsite.com/my-site-6