W: Anna Black
The 2025 Graduate Fashion Show from the College of Creative Industry (CCI) at Srinakharinwirot University (SWU), famously known as FASH SWU, served as a powerful testament to the evolution of Thai fashion education. This year’s showcase, titled "FASH 25 & FASH 26," moved beyond the boundaries of traditional apparel to embrace the concept of "Creative Craft." The event solidified the university's reputation for producing designers who are not only technically proficient but also socially and environmentally conscious, blending the high-tech demands of modern industry with the intricate soul of Thai craftsmanship.
The overarching theme of the 2025 showcase focused on Experimental Fashion and the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) model. Rather than chasing fleeting commercial trends, the graduates focused on the "New Luxury"—a philosophy where value is derived from sustainability and intellectual design. We saw a heavy emphasis on "Upcycled Couture," where students transformed agricultural by-products and industrial waste into high-fashion silhouettes. This approach reflects the CCI curriculum's dedication to solving environmental issues through design, proving that eco-friendly fashion can be avant-garde, structural, and visually arresting.
On the runway, the collections were characterized by their high technical difficulty and architectural silhouettes. A recurring highlight was the fusion of traditional Thai textiles, such as hand-woven silks and indigo dyes, with futuristic 3D structural techniques. Some designers utilized modular components, creating garments that could be disassembled or reconfigured, while others experimented with "Interactive Design," incorporating responsive materials that changed form or texture. This bridge between heritage and the future is what sets SWU apart, as graduates demonstrated how to modernize local wisdom without losing its cultural essence.
The 2025 cohort also gained significant industry recognition, with several students being scouted by major Thai fashion houses and international media outlets. The show proved to be more than just a graduation requirement; it was a professional launchpad. Many of the featured designers have already moved on to participate in national competitions, such as the "Thai Fabrics Are Fun to Wear" initiative, showcasing their ability to make traditional materials appealing to a global, contemporary audience.
Overall, the FASH SWU 2025 show was an impressive display of "Art in Motion." While some collections leaned heavily into the realm of conceptual art—prioritizing creative expression over immediate retail readiness—the sheer level of innovation in textile development and pattern making was world-class. It is clear that the graduates of Srinakharinwirot University are being groomed to lead the next wave of the creative economy, positioning Bangkok as a serious contender in the global sustainable fashion conversation.