News

Fashion Design Student Joelle Olabode Wins CFDA Scholarship

Olabode was chosen for a $25,000 scholarship from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

‘Boy Meets Girl x Strawberry Shortcake’ Collab Makes Waves in Adaptive Fashion

Columbia’s School of Fashion partnered with Boy Meets Girl on adaptive fashion, leading to a sold-out collection and future collaborations.

Welcoming Interim President Jerry Tarrer and a New Academic Structure for 2024-2025 School Year

Columbia College Chicago kicks off the new academic school year with a renewed spirit and excitement to welcome freshmen and transfer students to its South Loop campus on September 3.

Columbia Students Rock L’Oréal's Global Competition 

Angie Belloso, Brianna Jennes ’24, and Breyona Smith ’24 just had the trip of a lifetime to London, snagging second place at L'Oréal Brandstorm.

Fashion Show Leverages Student Talent From Multiple Disciplines

Columbia students come together to produce and promote an end-of-year showcase of student fashion designs.

Spring Semester In Review At Columbia

Spring 2024: Columbia College Chicago Highlights

Get Ready for Manifest Arts Festival 2024, a Student-Powered Event

This is everything attendees need to know before Columbia College Chicago’s Manifest Arts Festival: Breakthrough 2024.

Ask the Expert: How to Style Yourself for Graduation

Columbia College Chicago Adjunct Professor Rachel Jimenez Penca uses her personal styling expertise to advise graduates on what to wear on their big day.

Columbia Team Wins U.S. L'Oréal Brandstorm Competition for Fourth Year in a Row

As the U.S. winners, students Angie Belloso, Breyona Smith, and Brianna Jennes earn an all-expense paid trip to London for the next stage of the international competition.

Empowering Creatives at ShopColumbia

During Women's History Month, we honor female-identifying artists who make ShopColumbia a unique shopping experience in the heart of Columbia College Chicago’s campus.

Drag Superstar Shea Couleé ’11 Returns to Columbia

Columbia College Chicago welcomed back Alum Shea Couleé ’11 for a panel discussion and reception unveiling Couleé-curated fashion exhibit window.

Fashion Studies Chair Colbey Reid Publishes New Book and Article on the Domestic Posthuman

Columbia College Chicago’s Colbey Reid and her co-author look at various iterations of the posthuman and assert the need for alternative, feminist readings of technology and the future of humanity.

Columbia and Local Nonprofit Collaborate to Showcase Valuable LBGTQ+ Community Resource 

In January, the windows at 618 S. Michigan Avenue feature examples of clothing available at the Brave Space Alliance, a place where members of the LGBTQ+ community can find free gender-affirming clothing and more.

What to Watch and Where to Wander This Winter: Columbia Edition

Columbia College Chicago and its creative community of alums, faculty, and students offer plenty of opportunities to keep you entertained this holiday season and beyond.

Five Columbia Students Earn Prestigious Fashion Scholarships

Once again, the Fashion Scholarship Fund has awarded five Columbia College Chicago students scholarships and funds to travel to New York City for a gala event recognizing their accomplishments. 

Columbia and the Chicago Fashion Incubator Announce New Partnership

The Chicago Fashion Incubator will transition its operations to a new speaker series at Columbia College Chicago.

Student Work Takes Center Stage at Unleashed 2023

Unleashed 2023 took place at Columbia College Chicago on November 30, showcasing extraordinary student talent and raising more than $700,000 in scholarships. Departing from the traditional fundraiser format, the Student Center transformed into a multi-floor immersive arts showcase, exploring the theme of "Connecting" across various creative disciplines.

Columbia Raises $700K+ for Student Scholarships

Columbia College Chicago honors the Efroymson Family Fund with the 2023 Philanthropic Icon Award for the family’s contributions to help create opportunities for students to pursue their passion in the arts

Integrating Hip Hop Into the Student Experience

As hip hop turns 50, we look at Columbia’s connections to the cultural phenomena that has impacted music, dance, fashion, art, film, and so much more.

Columbia Spotlight: Upcoming Events

A range of performances and experiences showcasing student and faculty artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.

Columbia Fashion Studies Symposium Teaches Lessons in Inclusivity

Columbia faculty explore what it means to make, merchandise, retail, market and celebrate fashion that engages with, rather than denies, the existence of most people’s bodies.

Columbia College Chicago Announces the 2023 Chicagoland Transfer Awards

The award provides ten $15,000 scholarships and one full-tuition scholarship to students transferring from Chicago-area community colleges to Columbia College Chicago.

Designing Bandages: Curad Competition Scores Students Cash Prizes

Fashion Studies students participate in a design competition sponsored by Medline, maker of Curad bandages.

Fashion Studies Students Participate in ARC'TERYX Design Challenge

The outdoor apparel and equipment company announced winners over the weekend.

Fashion Studies Alum's Internship Launches Career in Apparel Design

Alum and Designer Rebecca Martin BFA ‘19 now works in New York City on brands seen at Walmarts and Targets across the country.

Columbia To Host Fashion Revolution Week Activities April 20-27

Fashion Revolution Week activities at Columbia include an ethical fashion panel discussion with "Worn’" author Sofi Thanhauser, a display of student work, a mending workshop, and more.

Three-Peat First-Place Win for Columbia's L'Oréal Brandstorm Team

Student team from Columbia College Chicago wins innovation competition by leveraging new technologies to promote brand.

Fashion Studies Associate Professor Justin Dougan-LeBlanc Pushes Boundaries

Trained as an architect, Columbia College Chicago’s Justin Dougan-LeBlanc takes on challenges in both fashion and art.

Columbia Students Win Scholarships and Take on New York During NRF Foundation Student Program

NRF Foundation scholarship recipients from Columbia place second in Student Challenge and enjoy three days of fashion industry events and networking opportunities.

Columbia Students Awarded Prestigious Fashion Scholarships

In April, five Columbia College Chicago scholarship winners will travel to New York City where the Fashion Scholarship Fund will recognize the students at a gala event.

Fashion Studies Students Partner With Apparel Company to Create Adaptive Clothing

Columbia students collaborate with Joe & Bella to develop innovative apparel for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes, with the company selecting one piece to produce and sell on their website.

Columbia Students Named Finalists in NRF Foundation’s Student Challenge

Columbia students will earn scholarships and again head to New York City to meet with retail industry leaders and attend the NRF Foundation Honors event.

Fashion Design Alum Shaquita Reed ’18 Expresses Herself Using Different Mediums

Shaquita Reed shares her journey as a mixed media artist, fashion designer, teacher, and graduate student

Sophomore Fashion Studies Student Awarded Rising Star Scholarship

Created by the NRF Foundation, Rising Star Scholarships help students like Columbia's Mollie Baker gain valuable opportunities to learn about career opportunities in retail and attend the NRF Foundation Student Program in January.

Columbia Fashion Studies Students Compete in O’Hare Fashion Packed Challenge While CTVA Students Document the Action

Five Fashion Studies students are participating in the Fourth Annual O'Hare Fashion Packed Challenge, which has all been caught on camera by CTVA documentary students hired by the Chicago Department of Aviation.

Finding the Right Fit

Aspiring to help build a more inclusive-fashion industry on the business side, senior Miranda Prater discovers her perfect fit at Columbia.

Art Institute Contest Awards Columbia’s Cezanne Window Exhibit

The 2022 Project Windows visual display contest gives “Best Design” award to Fashion Studies’ “Cezanne Undone: Another PerRetrospective” window exhibit.

Two Columbia Students Named Next Generation Scholarship Semifinalists by NRF Foundation

Columbia students once again earn top spots and compete for $10,000 and $25,000 scholarships.

Columbia's Cezanne Window Exhibit Pays Tribute to Artist Through Fashion Design

Columbia-trained designers delve into painter Paul Cezanne’s process and showcase their Cezanne-inspired designs at 618 S. Michigan.

Columbia Earns Top Spot in L’Oréal Brandstorm U.S. Finals: Team Heads to International Semifinals for Second Consecutive Year

Fashion and Communication students from Columbia College Chicago pitch a product to empower inclusive beauty at L’Oréal Brandstorm 2022 and are recognized for their stellar work. Public voting between May 9 and 15 will help determine winners of the semifinals.

For Second Consecutive Year, a Columbia Student Wins NRF Foundation's Next Generation Award

Robert Davison Long wins the 2022 NRF Foundation’s Next Generation Award and two Columbia teams place in the NRF Student Challenge, earning students scholarships and making Columbia the most winning institution at this year’s NRF Foundation’s Honors.

Columbia College Chicago Fashion Dominates NRF Foundation Honors 2022

This year, nine Columbia College Chicago students have risen to the top level of two major student competitions—the NRF Foundation Student Challenge and the NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship. The winners will be announced April 13.

Fashion Study Collection Wedding Salon on March 16 and 23

The Fashion Study Collection at Columbia, which includes wedding attire and wedding-related items, is home to more than 6,000 items dating back to the 1840s.

NRF Videos Feature Columbia Fashion Studies Finalist and Faculty

The National Retail Foundation releases videos featuring Columbia Fashion Studies finalist Robert Davison Long and Associate Professor Dana Connell.

Fashion, the Future, and the Creation of NoRal Apparel

For LaRon Hickerson, known as Ron DuWayne, BFA Fashion Design ‘03, community has been at the heart of all of his creations. He sat down with us to talk about the road he took to creating NoRal Apparel, his pathbreaking menswear brand.

Fashion Studies Student Ben Sill on Building an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Since his second year at Columbia, Fashion student Ben Sill has been dedicated to making the most of his time with experts in the field.

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