Radford on the Runway
By Max Esterhuizen
Under the bright lights of New York, New York, senior Mashail Alghamdi’s fashion collection shined at Couture Fashion and ASC Fashion Weeks. In fact, her collection shined so brightly that one would think she was an established pillar of New York Fashion Week.
Not only was it her first time being in the prestigious event, Alghamdi was the first currently enrolled Radford University student to be accepted into New York Fashion Week and the first designer from
Saudi Arabia.
Alghamdi’s “The Buckingham Collection” was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth I, her inspiration. The collection was featured in the ASC Fashion Show and the Couture Fashion Week Show in September 2018.
“She’s considered one of the most powerful women in history,” Alghamdi said. “She inspired me to build the whole brand with the concept of the customer to be powerful and sophisticated at the
same time.”
Alghamdi’s journey to Radford began when she did not like her major in her native country of Saudi Arabia. After discovering that the Radford design program is among the best in the United States, she knew she found her future home.
“Honestly, Radford helped me so much,” Alghamdi said. “When I started school, I didn’t know how to sew. I went to school with zero experience in fashion. Now, I feel like an expert. I feel like I am competing with the big designers. I am so glad that I chose Radford.”
Even in New York City, the Radford family made Alghamdi feel at home. Two of her design professors, Farrell Doss, Ph.D., and John Jacob, Ph.D., traveled to New York to see her showcase her collection and some of Alghamdi’s former classmates — now Radford alumni — made the trip to support her.
NYC Fashion Week models showcasing Alghamdi's designs.
Jacob said that he’s “incredibly proud” of Alghamdi’s accomplishment.
“She has a fantastic career ahead of her,” Jacob said. “To do what she did at such a young age, while being a mother to two kids, is incredible. Her line displayed so well at the fashion show and was one of, if not the, best in the show.”
Alghamdi’s appearance in Couture Fashion Week went smoothly — and after her collection was shown, she was swarmed by fashion reporters and guests — the perfect ending to her historic appearance in New York Fashion Week.
“It was my vision to be in New York Fashion Week, and I worked on that vision since I started at Radford University,” Alghamdi said.
Alghamdi’s husband and family supported her throughout the entire process to help her vision become reality.
Under the bright lights, senior Mashail Alghamdi’s fashion collection shined at Couture Fashion Week and ASC Fashion Week.