Twelve students in Palomar College’s Fashion Merchandising and Design program were invited to display their original work at the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art as part of the 2026 San Diego Design Week.
The opportunity gave the students exposure to the professional design community and enabled the students to present garments that reflected their creative perspectives, technical skills, and cultural influences.
“Opportunities like this allow our students to show their work beyond the classroom and experience what it means to present as emerging designers in a professional setting,” said Rita Campo Griggs, associate professor of Fashion Merchandising and Design. “We are proud of the creativity, craftsmanship, and individuality represented by our students.”
One of the students, Lexie Snedecor, presented a Goth medieval-inspired dress that showed her development as a designer, exploring patternmaking, garment construction, and design execution while developing a design aesthetic.
“Bringing this design to life taught me so much about patternmaking, construction, and design execution,” she said. “I still adore this dress! It reminds me of a proud milestone that started my journey in fashion design.”
Another student, Ezra Hernandez, presented a contemporary ensemble inspired by the World Cup and influenced by elements of Mexican and Chicano fashion history. The top began as a 2022 Mexico team jersey, which Hernandez transformed into a collared shirt designed to be worn beyond the sporting environment. The bottoms drew inspiration from the Pachuco movement of the 1940s, combined with elements of Chicano style from the 1980s and 1990s.
Hernandez’s work illustrates how fashion can connect history, culture, and contemporary design while giving existing garments a new purpose.
In addition to the student exhibition, San Diego Design Week provided opportunities for students to engage with fashion and design industry professionals. Among the featured speakers at the event was Ashley Tipton, a faculty member in Palomar’s Fashion Merchandising and Design program.
“Experiences like San Diego Design Week are an important part of our students’ education,” Griggs said. “Our goal is to give students opportunities to apply their classroom knowledge in professional settings while encouraging them to develop their own creative voice and vision as designers.”
