Otis College Fashion Design 2025-2026 Mentors Include Nike, St. John, and Vince, Among Others

This year’s mentors include six Fashion Design alumni and returning brands Activision, David Meister, and Vuori. 

Otis College’s Fashion Design program has announced its roster of mentors for the 2025-2026 academic year. The list includes several alumni from the classes of 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2014, the first time that this many alums have returned to campus to inspire and elevate the next generation of fashion designers. Several mentors’ projects asked students to explore ideation with AI and learn how to use this revolutionary tool—not as a replacement for their work, but as a catalyst that expands their thought process and creative potential.

Otis’s Fashion Design program has a decades-long track record of training students in all aspects of the design process, following the industry model in which several seasons are designed simultaneously. Working with professional mentors, students learn far more than drawing, sewing, and pattern-making skills; they experience all facets of the industry and deepen their creativity and self-discipline. 

Each year, Fashion Design juniors and seniors are paired with professional mentors who provide the students with insight into the future of fashion. Juniors focus on casual and active sportswear in the moderately-priced market, including a sustainable design project, while seniors work on tailored garments and evening wear for the luxury market. This year, seniors are leading a groundbreaking sustainability project in collaboration with modern fashion brand FRAME and the Salvation Army.

At the beginning of the academic year, mentors provide a creative brief and design direction to their group of mentees. For the remainder of the year, the students undergo a rigorous process to refine the conceptual basis of their projects, receiving ongoing guidance from faculty. Mentors assess the students’ work through critiques during design development, sketch selection, and fittings, sharing their professional expertise to inspire innovative thinking, new construction ideas, and insights into the design and production process. The work will culminate in a public fashion show, titled “Activate,” during the College’s O-Launch exhibition weekend on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

This year’s mentors include: 

Juniors

Brand: Décor Global x Vera Neumann

Mentors: Lisa Elliott (SVP, Design), Jessica Yi (VP, Design and Otis alumna, ’08 BFA Fashion Design), Christina Sharp. The textiles and graphic prints are sponsored by Vera Neumann Inc. and Gregory Sharp, President, Vera Neumann Inc.

Direction: Dive into Vera Neumann’s iconic red poppies and striking geo-abstract prints, reimagining her 1970s spirit for today’s fashion-week crowd. Let the bold collision spark fresh, unexpected ideas for the ultimate cool-girl creative.

Brand: Nike

Mentors: Alexsandra del Real (Women’s Product Line Manager, North America Express

Lane and Otis alum, ’05 BFA Fashion Design); and Michelle Kwak (Senior TD Manager and Otis alum, ’05 BFA Fashion Design) 

Direction: Energy intensifies as technology and movement ignite the ultimate run. Transform urban streets into high-voltage club scenes, culminating in an electrifying finale powered by AI and CLO 3D software.

Brand: Vuori 

Mentor: Kirk Heifner (VP, Men’s Design and Otis alum, ’06 BFA Fashion Design), and Keenan Evans (VP, Women’s Design)

Direction: Design a look for the athlete who moves seamlessly from workout or run to art gallery—embodying the effortless lifestyle of Vuori.

Brand: Wilson Sporting Goods

Mentor: Deborah Sabet (Senior Design Director and Otis alum, ’05 BFA Fashion Design)

Direction: Design a modern athlete kit for Wimbledon 2027—one that fuses the spirit of 1999 with contemporary performance, aesthetics, and innovation. 

Seniors

Brand/Mentor: David Meister

Direction: Ignite a spring collection with bold, botanical prints crafted in Procreate, pushing the imagination into vibrant new territory, jumpstarting your creativity by exploring AI-driven imagery.

Brand: FRAME x Salvation Army

Mentor: Ida Lamberton (Head, Women’s RTW, FRAME), Bianca Nemtoc (Regional Donations

Coordinator, Salvation Army), and Atticus Firey (Director, Donations Development, Salvation Army)

Direction: Using upcycled garments provided by the Salvation Army, create looks that reflect FRAME’s aesthetic for an intimate yet sophisticated gathering of discerning, fashion-conscious consumers.

Brand: St. John

Mentor: Greg Myler (SVP, Design) 

Direction: Infuse St. John with a fresh perspective, honoring its heritage and DNA while expanding the brand’s appeal to a new and younger demographic.

Brand: Vince

Mentor: Arthur Thammavong (Director, Women’s Design Hard Wovens and Otis alum, ’14 BFA Fashion Design) 

Direction: Inspired by the sensual depth of Sheila Metzner’s imagery and mid-century architectural forms, create couture looks that embody bold sophistication and capture attention on the runway while offering effortless comfort and ease.

Brand: Activision 

Mentor: Tim McGrath (Senior Art Director)

Direction: Step into the future and redefine cocktail wear for 2030—tailored for every corner of Paris. Transform the runway into an immersive AI-powered augmented-reality world, evolving into a cinematic spectacle like never before.

Brand: FIFA 1904

Mentors: Marcus Clayton and Leonardo Lawson 

Direction: Redefine FIFA 1904 through a capsule collection. With a 360-degree approach, craft the brand’s next chapter, where style meets purpose and innovation.

Read more about the Fashion Design program at Otis College of Art and Design. 

Related News