UNITY 2025 Fashion Show: What attendees wore
Graphic by Claudia Johnson
Northwestern students and Chicagoland designers explored the theme of “Myth” on the 2025 UNITY Fashion Show runway while fundraising for local nonprofit Snow City Arts. SCA brings professional teaching artists to pediatric patients in Chicago hospitals to support creative outlets and learning for children receiving treatment.
Access captures the mission of both UNITY and SCA, as both organizations work to offer new skills and opportunities for students across ages and experiences.
“Arts like fashion shows tend to be seen as sort of classist and gate-kept by your socioeconomic status, a kind of space you can only participate in if you have the means and the time,” UNITY Finance Director Eric Lin said. “Snow City Arts is really doing the good work on trying to tell everyone that anyone should be able to participate in the arts.”
The student-run fashion show brought the NU community into the often exclusive world of fashion. STITCH took a closer look at the style choice of the guests — some of whom were attending a runway for the first time, and many who took the event’s cocktail attire as an opportunity to explore fashion themselves. Here’s what UNITY 2025 attendees wore:
Tkebuchava shows off her intricate statement necklace. / Photo by Aanika Sawhney
Found and made
Weinberg junior Anna Tkebuchava thrifted the base of her look, a long black dress. She infused more of the mystical theme into her ensemble with a statement necklace.
“I'm an artist myself,” Tkecuchava said. “I think just using art as a medium, something I can put on my body, I love just displaying the necklace itself.”
Tkebuchava got the necklace from a flea market in Copenhagen and said it's a Syrian design. With the jewelry’s extravagant detailing, she said she felt lucky to have an opportunity to put it on.
Last-minute outfits can sometimes be the most creative, evident by Weinberg sophomore Meazi Light-Orr crocheting her dress just a day before the event.
“I wanted to take this event as an opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone and try it out,” Light-Orr said.
She purchased the yarn for her outfit years ago, appreciating its burnt orange hue. Originally, she planned to wear her handmade top with a denim skirt, but then challenged herself, instead crafting a skirt with the material for the first time.
Honing in on warm tones, she wore a peach paisley banana and tan long trench coat with gold dainty jewelry to complete the look.
Viauerte’s ensemble reflects his own designs for the show. / Photo by Aanika Sawhney
Miguel Viauerte, a featured designer who goes by MV3, didn’t let his models outdo him at the event. He channeled similar textures and layering techniques to his exhibited pieces. Metallic accessories on his outfit included reflective sunglasses, silver rings and necklaces and safety pin details on his top, which all stood out in the venue’s dim lighting.
“Edgy, Rick Owens, like a mix and everything, so that's kind of what I'm giving out right here,” Viauerte said. “Trying to get the earth tones and the flowiness and distressed kind of look.”
Polanco opted for a classy little black dress to focus on her accessories. / Photo by Aanika Sawhney
From Family
In a classy off-the-shoulder little black dress, Weinberg freshman Isabella Polanco accessorized with her standout shoes and clutch. She said she valued the chance to wear her vibrant heels again from a past summer wedding because of the pop of yellow threads through the beading in her purse.
Polanco’s coordinated accessories honored her great-grandmother.
Photos by Aanika Sawhney
“This was my great-grandmother's,” Polanco said. “I always like to wear a piece of her, so I'm wearing her earrings and her purse.”
Weinberg freshman Kevin Sun said the show exceeded his expectations. He came dressed in a 2010s shell jacket from his dad’s wardrobe and kept it simple on the bottom with baggy jeans and leather shoes.
“It has a lot of the shining details that are a lot of buttons, I think it's for the utility of it,” Sun said. “I think it's really special and stands out a little in a room that’s pretty dark.”
Somers channels the show’s theme with his personalized letterman-style suit.
Photos by Aanika Sawhney
Last year, Weinberg senior Eero Somers said he came to UNITY “completely underdressed.” In his final year, Somers leaned on both his family and personal customization to level up his style. Sporting a grey suit with varsity letterman jacket flair, Somers got the help of his dad, a Chicagoan artist.
“It kind of ties into the myth and fiction elements because there's like a lot to do with sports, like all of the patches,” Somers said, “It kind of ties into the way that we envision people in athletics as larger than life and like myth.”
Somers said his dad gave the thrifted suit a second life, even including personal elements like Somers’ childhood archery tab.
Shah wore a vintage slip dress to the event. / Photo by Aanika Sawhney
Wanting to wear
Weinberg senior Shaina Shah had been saving an outfit gifted to her by a friend for the perfect occasion. At UNITY, she included a piece from overseas: a vintage Playboy slip dress from a Parisian boutique embellished with turquoise embroidery, lace and gems.
“I knew all the models were going to look great,” said Shah. “So I needed to show out, too.”
McCarter repurposed her interview blazer for the runway. / Photo by Aanika Sawhney
Like Shah, McCormick junior Adelaide McCarter centered her outfit around a staple she had been looking forward to styling.
McCarter said she wore, “things I found in my closet. I got these boots on mega sale a few weeks ago, so I've been wanting to wear them.”
McCarter paired the statement shoes with a navy J. Crew blazer, which she said she normally wears to interviews. She re-envisioned the piece with boots and a black mini skirt, embracing the high-fashion look of big city runways.
UNITY hosted the show at Artifact Events on May 8, and attendees’ tickets supported Snow City Arts’s cause. Guests had their eyes on the innovative myth-inspired looks on the runway. STITCH did too — read our review of this year's collection here.