Dustin Janicki
Recent graduate, Chase Lowry, and senior Mora Forkapa work on their fashion project for NASCAR in the fashion lab in 623 S. Wabash on Monday, June 23, 2025.
Columbia fashion students are partnering with NASCAR to debut a sustainable fashion collection during race weekend, merging high-speed motorsports with eco-conscious design.
The collaboration began when three students landed NASCAR internships this spring through Columbia’s Fashion Lab, leading to a proposal for a race weekend activation. NASCAR responded with donations of recyclable materials — and the challenge was on.
Eighteen students and recent alumni answered the call. Earlier this week, they gathered at the Fashion Lab to choose materials and begin constructing garments.
Their work will be featured in a pop-up runway show at Buckingham Fountain on Saturday, July 5, coinciding with the third annual Chicago Street Race, which takes place July 5 and 6 in the South Loop near campus.
Colbey Reid, director of the School of Fashion, said in an email to the Chronicle that all 18 students are invited to submit one design constructed out of the provided recycled materials by Monday, June 30.
Alum Larissa Eastman took their design inspiration from the “Fast and the Furious” franchise. Eastman said the “point-of-view shots from inside the engines” inspired her to incorporate mechanical elements into her design such as chains and grommets.
The runway show will be livestreamed through the college’s social media accounts, with judges awarding prizes ranging from $500 to $1,500 for the winners.
Senior marketing major Seng Xiong said he hopes the competition will help him gain recognition in the fashion industry and advance his career.
Xiong said that the prize money “would help fund me, but I’m not looking to start my own brand, but rather put my name out there.”
Alum Brandon Barrera said they want to make a comfortable design that’s tailored to women and that draws inspiration from the racing suits of NASCAR drivers.
“I wanted to incorporate high fashion with something that could be used in their everyday life,” Barrera said.
Reid said that although it is unclear if the competition will become an annual event, the college is hopeful to continue partnering with NASCAR in the future.
“The collaboration has been extremely productive and we are delighted to have the opportunity to enact our own proposal on race day in downtown Chicago,” Reid said.
Copy edited by Emma Jolly