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KENT, OH – The School of Fashion at �鶹ӰԺ is pleased to announce British designer Dame Zandra Rhodes as the 2024 Hall of Fame Inductee.

In its 35th year, the prestigious �鶹ӰԺ State School of Fashion Hall of Fame award celebrates the outstanding contributions to fashion made by an individual. The accolade honors the unique qualities of their leadership. It champions the aspiration and inspiration they and their business of fashion offer the next generation of fashion graduates at �鶹ӰԺ State. Rhodes joins an illustrious group of inductees that includes Omar Salam, Kenneth Cole, Estee Lauder, Oscar de la Renta, Dana Buchman, Leonardo Ferragamo and Josie Natori.

"Dame Zandra Rhodes is a true icon, an inspiring artist with a unique command of patterns and colors in her fashion and textile designs. We are very honored to host her as our 2024 School of Fashion Hall of Fame Inductee and to have her join our community in April," said Mourad Krifa, Director of the School of Fashion.

�鶹ӰԺ Dame Zandra Rhodes
Dame Zandra Rhodes is a British designer and pioneer of the fashion industry. In the early 1960s, Rhodes launched her iconic brand that took the fashion scene by storm with its fusion of print, textiles, and pattern. Originally seen as “too extreme,” her bold designs earned her the nickname “the Princess of Punk,” and led her to dress household names like Freddie Mercury, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, Princess Anne and Princess Diana.

After over five decades of fashion collections, Rhodes has more recently focused on collaborations with lifestyle brands like IKEA of Sweden, Happy Socks and Poppy Lissiman. In 2020 Rhodes formed the Zandra Rhodes Foundation, providing the opportunity for aspiring designers, students, researchers, educators and artists to closely study her designs and techniques. Her passion for the next generation of creatives is initially what led her to engage with the School of Fashion at �鶹ӰԺ.

"I am thrilled and honored to have been invited by �鶹ӰԺ State's School of Fashion to be their 2024 Hall of Fame Inductee. It is a real privilege to become part of their fabulous community – I very much look forward to meeting all of the wonderful students and teachers," said Rhodes.

Rhodes will give an artist lecture at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 26 in Rockwell Hall to �鶹ӰԺ students, industry and fashion enthusiasts. This lecture is free and open to the public.

Rhodes' induction into the �鶹ӰԺ State School of Fashion Hall of Fame will take place Saturday, April 27, as part of the Annual Fashion Show.

�鶹ӰԺ the 2024 Annual Fashion Show
Featuring an eclectic mix of styles, materials and concepts, the Annual Fashion Show showcases the work and talent of �鶹ӰԺ State seniors and graduate students. For tickets and more information, visit www.kent.edu/fashion/annual-fashion-show.

�鶹ӰԺ �鶹ӰԺ’s School of Fashion
Established in 1983 as �鶹ӰԺ’s Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising, the school is a research-led teaching institution that fosters industry excellence and is grounded in real-world industry experience. Through its programs and initiatives, it is developing the next generation of fashion thinkers to build a sustainable and fruitful industry that supports creative employment for years to come.

�鶹ӰԺ State is in the top 25 fashion programs in the world and No. 1 in the Midwest. Additionally, the graduate program for fashion is No. 5 in the United States. �鶹ӰԺ State’s School of Fashion boasts three undergraduate degrees in fashion design and merchandising, and a variety of programs for all students to grow creatively. Located in �鶹ӰԺ, Ohio, the school offers several education-away programs, including New York City; Florence, Italy; Paris, France; and Hong Kong, China. From the school’s location in the Garment District, students studying in New York have a unique opportunity to work with industry leaders, explore the marketplace and gain experience with internships.

For more information about �鶹ӰԺ State’s School of Fashion, visit www.kent.edu/fashion.

Header Images:
Zandra Rhodes show at The Roundhouse, London, 1975 
Zandra Rhodes by Robyn Beeche
Zandra patterncutting in her studio in the 1960s, photo by Bruno Karlsson
Conceptual Chic Collection, Spring/Summer 1978, photographed by Clive Arrowsmith