2024 / Year of the Dragon
It is not what is on each side of the doorway, but rather the space in between. What exists in the undefined area where one is not this nor that.
You are in the space between spaces. Only here, can this exist.
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2023 / Year of the Rabbit
Morii is defined as the desire to capture a fleeting experience. A show sharing a deep appreciation for the ephemeral, and encouraging us to slow down, savor the moment, and cultivate gratitude for the fleeting experiences which make life rich and meaningful.
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2022 / Year of the Tiger
A garden lives within each of us. We tend to the flowers, dance across the grass, and feel the warmth of youth shine upon our skin. In this mysterious yet familiar world, we rediscover our inner child.
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2021 / Year of the Ox
COLLECTIVA explores everyone's role in an interdependent society. Each of our actions ricochet throughout the world, impacting faraway places and people who we don't know. Sometimes it can be hard to forget that we're not alone, that we're part of a complex and connected world. Our communities function as networks that would collapse without the everydav work of others. Instead of erasing anyone, we want to honor them and uplift their hard work. Imagine a world where everyone is not only remembered but celebrated as an essential node in a greater network of COLLECTIVA.
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2020 / Year of the Rat
Yesterday defines our current moment as a liminal space constantly in tension between the past and future. For this year’s show, we drew inspiration from Pittsburgh’s industrial history. In the 1980s, Pittsburgh experienced a massive transition out of its identity as an industrial city, forcing it to adapt and rebuild. Today, Pittsburgh demonstrates resilience by continuing to evolve with the times while honoring its roots.
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Website → Livestream →
2019 / Year of the Pig
2018 / Year of the Dog
The Lunar Gala: an intergalactic celebration of the yearly contributions of the Interplanetary Federation for Peace and Protection. The year is 2268, and, on this 250th anniversary of the planet Earth’s quarantine, we present Ferox, a public demonstration of the hostility of the Earth’s previously dominant species, the homosapien. We invite Federation sponsors and visitors to observe, for the first time, the savagery we have successfully contained. Infused with Federation principles, the previously dangerous human race is now docile - an allegory for the potential of the IFPP to mollify threatening agents intergalactically. Come celebrate with us! And, in the process, bear witness to a species, that, prior to this event, has been contained for centuries.
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Video → Website →Livestream →
2017 / Year of the Rooster
Inspired by bright colors and kaleidoscopic textures, Sonder personified the awakening through which we become aware of the parallels between our own vivid and complex experiences and that of any passerby. This was the first year Lunar Gala Alumni took part in the show, bringing together the past and present.
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Website → Livestream → Video →
2016 / Year of the Monkey
Strain played on the concept of evolution and physical force, mirroring how Lunar Gala has grown through the pressure of CMU over time. Emphasizing transparency, Strain gave a look behind the scenes with backstage, internal team, and designer videos during the show, and experimented with color extremes.
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Website → Livestream → Video →
2015 / Year of the Goat
Through information distortion and folklore, the goat has fooled others into thinking it is something far greater. Similarly, humans have curated their lives to the public to present a superhuman view of their actual selves. They want to satisfy the urge to be connected, to be desired. Vestige exploited the human need for stimulation, and saturated the mind to give the viewer the information high they have been seeking.
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2014 / Year of the Horse
Referring to a dream-like state that stimulates the mind and heightens the senses, Hypnose was created to push the boundaries of fashion on the runway and to imprint in the audience's’ memories. This was the year the Lunar Gala magazine was born, along with the Lunar Gala Blog that lives on to this day.
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2013 / Year of the Snake
As one of the first shows to place emphasis on a visually cohesive theme, Venin incorporated video art, promotional videos, 360-degree photographs of the clothing, and a mobile app for the show. The show was split into two halves: light and dark, and placed designer lines and acts accordingly.
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Article → Poster → Video →
2012 / Year of the Dragon
2011 / Year of the Rabbit
2010 / Year of the Tiger
2009 / Year of the Ox
2008 / Year of the Rat
Being the twelfth anniversary, Lunar Gala had come full circle and completed one cycle of the zodiac. Karma showcased the whimsical and witch-like karma emblem, and emphasized the cyclical process of dominance and submission through the lines and dances.
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2007 / Year of the Pig
2006 / Year of the Dog
Focusing on the “extreme”, “exciting”, and “expressive” aspects of fashion, the “X” theme was chosen in honor of Lunar Gala’s ten-year anniversary in hopes to emphasize the unknown factor of designing clothing.
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2005 / Year of the Rooster
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2004 / Year of the Monkey
2003 / Year of the Goat
In order to incorporate greater diversity of designs, Experience Identity was the first show to ever feature “Mini-Collections,” which inspired a handful of designers to each create only 2 looks.
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2002 / Year of the Horse
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2001 / Year of the Snake
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2000 / Year of the Dragon
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1999 / Year of the Rabbit
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1998 / Year of the Tiger
Improving on the show, the second year of Lunar Gala presented student designers, and incorporated themes for participating retailers. With an overall theme of “chic and panache,” Lunar Gala turned into a VIP style event, and was rebranded into the “it” event of the year.
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1997 / Year of the Ox
Birth of Lunar Gala Fashion Show. Keeping with the tradition of new clothes being worn on Lunar New Year’s Day, the first Lunar Gala show celebrated the Year or the Ox with a theme of “high fashion”.
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