From left to right: Alyssa Mapp ’14 with Fashion Design Program Head Camille Avent and President Young at the 2025 Fashion Show.
President Cathy Young’s stunning gown at Moore College of Art & Design’s 2025 Fashion Show was more than stylish—it was a celebration of alumni talent. The custom silver design was created by Fashion Design alumna Alyssa Mapp ’14, a designer at Garan, Inc. in New York City and founder of clothing brand AHLAI, who first met President Young at a Moore Alumni Reunion.
The creative process started with Mapp sharing her design portfolio. After President Young expressed interest in a particular look from Mapp’s Spring 2022 collection, the two met to shape their ideas into a cohesive design.
“She was so excited about my work and genuinely wanted to wear it. That kind of trust in my abilities meant a lot to me,” Mapp said. “My favorite part was bouncing ideas off each other.”
From initial conversations to the final garment, the design process spanned two months.
“I went out and sourced some color options, and we landed on silver with floral embellishments,” Mapp said.
As a Moore Fashion Design alumna, Mapp found deep meaning in contributing to the Fashion Show—an event she participated in as a student.
“It felt like a full-circle moment. I went to school at Moore, and now I get to show up in this way,” she said. “There are so many talented people from Moore, so it’s honestly an honor to have this opportunity.”
Moore College of Art & Design is the only independent art and design college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Want to learn more about the Fashion Design major at Moore? Contact our Admissions team at enroll@moore.edu or 215.965.4015 to set up a call or a campus visit. We'd love to tell you more!
