# Experimental Student Runways The NYFW Academy of Art University 2014 Show Highlights New Talent By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2014-02-10 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/academy-of-art-university-2014 References: [fashionschooldaily](http://www.fashionschooldaily.com/index.php/2014/01/31/mbfw-fall-2014-designer-earnest-haung/) & [fashionschooldaily](http://www.fashionschooldaily.com/index.php/2014/02/06/mbfw-fall-2014-desiger-mingyu-du/) Some of the most innovative and unusual fashions come from [student shows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/design-graduates-initiative), and the [Academy of Art University](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stem-saturday) 2014 runway at [New York Fashion Week](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fashion-week-fall-2024) was full of both. The fashions that came out of the California school capture a range of inspiration from its design students, from gritty industrialism to aerial shots of rural countrysides. There’s a balance of both men’s and women’s clothing, but the looks are shown one after the other, so it was crucial for the designers to put their own unique stamp on their pieces in order to be able to tell where one collection ends and the next starts. Some standout pieces from the collection include works by Mingyu Du, which use unconventional materials like an army tent, wool blankets, parachutes and cotton canvases as fabrics, and Earnest Haung’s collection, that mixed army green and orange colors, as well as some unusual textures and patterns. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.6/10 - Popularity: 14% | Activity: 56% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Hip Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/hipfashion) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Unconventional Materials:** Opportunity for designers to experiment with non-traditional fabrics and push the boundaries of fashion. - **Gender-fluid Fashion:** Opportunity to challenge traditional gender norms through designs that blur the lines between menswear and womenswear. - **Mixing Colors and Textures:** Opportunity to create visually striking garments by combining unexpected color palettes and textures. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Fashion Design:** Designers can embrace experimental practices and materials to create unique and innovative fashion collections. - **Textile Manufacturing:** Companies can explore new techniques and materials to cater to the demand for unconventional textiles. - **Fashion Retail:** Retailers can curate collections that promote gender inclusivity and offer a diverse range of styles and sizes. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Experimental Fall Wardrobe](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/khaotique-noir.md) - [Edgy Backpack-Centric Fashion Shows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/at-the-edge-of-time.md) - [Sustainably-Focused Experimental Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/upcycled-fashion-collection.md) - [High Fashion Mud Runways](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/balenciaga-2023-runway.md) - [Dynamic Fall-Centric Fashion Shows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jordanluca-1.md) - [Evolutionary Menswear Fashion Shows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ss-daley-1.md) - [Statement-Making Fall Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/auteur-studios-fall-2025.md) - [High-Fashion Workwear Runways](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/high-fashion-collaboration.md) - [Minimalist Gallery Runways](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/saint-laurent-springsummer-2024.md)