By Lookout Staff

June 11, 2025 -- Santa Monica College (SMC) fashion students will showcase their latest designs next week during an annual show that includes fashion shoots, video interviews and a panel of professional judges.

LA Mode 2025 -- which takes place at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 20, in the Core Performance Center (CPC) Courtyard on the SMC Main Campus -- feature 25 global collections, reflecting each designer’s future aspirations," event organizers said.

The global collections designed by SMC students as part of their two-year fashion studies include "an eclectic mix of casual, cocktail, club, and avant-garde styles."

The show is a collaborative event, with SMC photography students "shooting” the show and the designers’ "look book photos" and media and communication students producing and editing video interviews with the designers.

The students will be "covering behind-the-scenes content up to show time," while. SMC cosmetology students "will be creating the looks for hair and make-up."

Judging the collections will be industry professionals, including designers, stylists, costume designers and retailers, some of them SMC Fashion Advisory Board member and alums offering internships.

Before the show, the judges will pre-evaluate the collections “up close” and select winners in categories that include "marketability, creativity, sustainability, technical achievement, and outstanding collection." The results will be announced live at the event.

The show is sponsored by Jeff Abrams, founder of contemporary clothing line Rails, who also awarded 20 fashion scholarships. Donations were made by Tukatech, businesses, members of the Santa Monica community and LA fashion industry supporters.

The evening will also feature the presentation of the eighth annual Style and Substance Award, honoring nationally acclaimed fashion designer Kevan Hall.

An SMC Fashion Advisory Board member, Hall is the co-founder of the Black Design Collective, a nonprofit established to create scholarships, workshops, and mentorships for young designers pursuing careers in fashion and costume design.

Admission to the show is $25 ($20 college students with I.D.). The Mocha Carpet begins at 4 p.m. with sponsor giveaways and "the chance for alums, current students, and fashion industry guests to connect and mingle."

The SMC Fashion Program offers Associate degrees and certificate programs in both Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising.

More information is available at smc.edu/LaMode or by sending email to LaMode@smc.edu.