ASU FIDM to host Fashion Symposium and Uncertainty Fashion Showcase in April

This spring, ASU FIDM will spotlight the next wave of fashion talent and industry innovation with its 2025 Fashion Symposium and Uncertainty Fashion Showcase. Taking place April 11-12, 2025, in Downtown Phoenix and Scottsdale, these events will bring together top industry professionals, emerging designers and fashion leaders to explore the future of fashion.

On April 11, 2025, the ASU FIDM Fashion Symposium at Fusion on First in Downtown Phoenix will serve as a forum for dialogue, networking and knowledge exchange. The event will feature notable industry leaders such as Ruben Toledo (painter, sculptor, designer, illustrator and fashion chronicler), Jess Cuevas (creative director), Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff (communications director, Cascale), Beth Forsberg (SVP, chief sustainability officer at Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona), Marissa Wilson (creative director, Marissa Wilson) and Sharleen Ernster (founder and CEO, We Are HAH). The keynotes and panels will delve into the intersection of fashion, sustainability and technology, positioning ASU FIDM as a hub for thought leadership in the industry.

Following the symposium, on April 12, 2025, the 2025 Uncertainty Fashion Showcase at Scottsdale Fashion Square will present the final collections of ASU FIDM’s graduating designers. This premier showcase, produced in collaboration with Margaret Merritt Productions and The Agency Arizona, will highlight cutting-edge creativity, technical mastery and industry-ready talent.

Last year’s showcase featured 31 collections and over 100 looks, attracting buyers, media and industry professionals eager to scout the next generation of design innovators.

This year’s showcase offers a powerful platform for students to present their work to industry professionals, media and the public. and continues ASU FIDM's commitment to fostering the next generation of fashion talent, with plans to expand this opportunity with complementary events in Los Angeles, further connecting education with the greater creative economy.

In addition to these signature events, ASU FIDM, which operates from both Downtown Phoenix and the Fashion District in Los Angeles, also engages industry in LA through high-profile events such as the "Fashion Statements" exhibition at ASU FIDM Museum and strategic partnerships within LA’s vibrant fashion ecosystem. With its downtown LA location as a gateway to major industry connections, ASU FIDM creates opportunities for students to engage with fashion’s leading voices.

“As fashion education evolves, our goal is to provide students with not only the skills but also the industry exposure to launch successful careers,” said Dennita Sewell, dierctor of ASU FIDM. “The symposium and showcase serve as powerful platforms for emerging designers to connect with the global fashion community.”
 

This story was written by Lauryn Wasill, ASU FIDM fashion program specialist.