Nostalgia Meets Craft at This Year’s IIDA Fashion Meets Finish

Published October 3, 2025

The theme of this year’s IIDA Fashion Meets Finish event, Millennial Mirage, invited design teams to explore fashion trends from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s. Our team, Recess Royalty, drew inspiration from the sense of freedom and individuality found outside the classroom, when self-expression wasn’t curated, just lived.

Our look was rooted in nostalgia but built with precision. Power shoulders, bold color blocking, and a subtle nod to 90s athleisure gave form to a garment that channeled youthful energy through a refined, architectural lens. Over the course of 20 weeks, we collaborated closely with HON Company and Shaw Contract, transforming commercial fabrics into a fashion-forward design that celebrated movement, structure and material craft.

We’re proud to share that Recess Royalty took home the Best Construction award, a recognition of the technical execution, attention to detail and collaboration that went into every seam and silhouette.

Thank you to our incredible partners, and to IIDA for hosting a one-of-a-kind event where design disciplines collide and creativity takes center stage.