The 2026 ASU FIDM Runway Show was a strong & inviting introduction to the next wave of designers coming out of LA, with Mathew Guzman’s collection standing out, alongside several other favorites that stayed with us.
Menswear stood out with a quiet confidence, especially within Matthew’s collection—tailoring felt intentional but not overworked, letting the designs speak for themselves. The layering, the ties, the outerwear—even the way the trousers sat on the model all worked together in a way that felt cohesive and easy, but still sharp & thoughtful.
Across the board the senior collections really leaned into impactful, strong silhouettes—you could feel the intention in the shapes whether it was structure, drape, or volume and nothing felt flat or one dimensional.
There were also strong moments across womenswear that leaned more expressive: draping, sheerness, and texture from soft sculpted neutrals to deeper, more dramatic tones. Some looks felt almost archival in reference, especially where form started to push beyond the body in a fresh way.
What stood out most was how clearly you could see each designer thinking through their world—everyone understood exactly what they were trying to say and committed to their thought.
Overall, it’s student designers like these that make us eager to foster the next wave of emerging talent.
Photos by
@marcus.illo 
