Obsessed with the Wild Mushrooms Blooming on the NYFW Runway A Philosophical Journey Through Fashion, Capturing the Fleeting Beauty of Life

From a young age, Kassie displayed an extraordinary gift for the arts. Her world has always been filled not only with colors and lines, but also with reflections on literature, philosophy, and nature. For this year’s New York Fashion Week, she presented her collection Ephemeral, inspired by the forms and textures of mushrooms and other organic life—offering a visual narrative on the cycle of life.


01
Designer Profile

In her designs, embroidery spreads across soft fabrics like a network of mycelium, quietly telling the story of life’s emergence and eventual decay. The airy materials float like spores, while layered silhouettes mimic the dynamic beauty of growth and wither. In her vision, decay is not an end but a transformation—a new kind of bloom. Kassie uses fashion to capture life’s most fragile, radiant moments, turning fleeting existence into an eternal poem.

02
Runway Showcase

Her work transcends fashion; it becomes a philosophical experiment, inviting the audience to rethink the essence of time, nature, and existence within opulent silhouettes. As models slowly walk the runway, it feels like stepping into a dream of life’s eternal cycle—where the ephemeral and the everlasting meet in perfect harmony, and the beauty of creation and dissolution unfolds before our eyes.

03 – Program Overview

Top-tier instruction paired with world-class exposure — the New York Fashion Week project offers more than just a platform for creative expression. It builds resumes, provides invaluable real-world experience, and broadens perspectives. With expert faculty and internationally integrated design training, students start their journey with a solid foundation. Paired with elite networks and professional resources, this program places students in the spotlight and offers direct access to mentors and industry leaders.

As a leading institution, Green Apple Art Center is one of the few schools globally that offers a well-rounded curriculum combining learning and real-world experience. In 2015, GAAC helped students launch Vitruvius — the world’s first new-gen fashion label founded by high school students — and has since guided student designers (aged 15–18) onto the NYFW runway year after year.

04 -Calling for S/S26

The Spring/Summer 2026 NYFW showcase will be held in New York in September 2025. This six-month program offers students an immersive journey through the fashion world, stepping into the shoes of both designer and brand founder.

At GAAC, we believe fashion is the expression of one’s soul — and we’re looking for students ready to shape their visions into something extraordinary.

Founded in 2015, Green Apple Art Center (GAAC) helped launch Vitruvius, the world’s first student-led high school fashion brand, and has since taken students aged 15–18 to NYFW every year. Over time, our [NYFW Program] has evolved into a premier incubator for young designers and a standout achievement for students applying to top universities.

Each year, Vitruvius receives glowing attention from local and international media, while students gain endorsements from leading industry experts. Their collections and NYFW experience have become invaluable assets in university applications and professional portfolios.

The next chapter of fashion begins now — and we can’t wait to see who joins us on the runway.