River Forest, IL-The Fashion Department at Dominican University will join Chicago Fashion Week events with an exhibition highlighting the artistry and cultural significance of vintage garments through the decades.

The Historical Collection Showcase will take place on Sunday, Oct. 12 from 1 to 5 p.m. on Dominican's River Forest Campus, 7900 W. Division St.

Admission is free to the public, but registration is required here.

This exhibition, which takes place on the second day of Chicago Fashion Week 2025, will feature more than 30 garments representing over 170 years of fashion design, with the 1950s through the 1970s having a strong presence.

The garments are from the Sr. Diona McNichols Costume Collection, housed at Dominican University. The collection contains about 300 pieces of historically significant apparel dating back to the mid-19th Century-offering invaluable insights into the evolution of fashion and its cultural context. The collection, which has also been digitized and cataloged for student research, aims to foster learning and appreciation of fashion and its history. Many of the pieces have been acquired from museums and private collections.

For the public, the exhibition is an opportunity to travel back in time through fashion and experience authentic and rare garments up close.

"This event reminds our students that everything they do has inspiration," said Antonella Fonseca, fashion lecturer at Dominican University. "In my History of Dress classes, I tell my students that we have to do the research, to know what was done before so we know where we are going. I don't want them to think anything is limited. I encourage them to know their inspiration and the era that inspires them and then try to reinterpret that."

Dominican University joined the relaunch of Chicago Fashion Week in October 2024 with a fashion show highlighting the designs of 12 alumnae/i, majority of whom work professionally in the fashion industry. The sold-out show gave Dominican a regional platform to spotlight its vibrant, growing fashion program and the accomplishments of its graduates.

"We've been put on the map," said Melissa Fernandez Carr, chair of Dominican University's Fashion Department. "We have a great institution and it's wonderful that more are knowing about it and all that we're doing."

In addition to participation in Chicago Fashion Week, Dominican University hosts a popular runway show each spring for students to highlight their original collections. Fashion students have also showcased their work at the prestigious Driehaus Fashion Awards and the Piazzolla Fashion Stradivari Gala in Chicago, taking home accolades for their work

Dominican University offers bachelor's degrees in fashion design and in fashion marketing. Students gain valuable career insight and preparation by completing at least one hands-on internship, developing a comprehensive fashion portfolio, and participating in the annual university fashion show, from designing and sewing garments, to marketing and production.

Chicago fashion week takes place Oct. 9-19, celebrating the evolution of Chicago's fashion scene and history. Special events, exhibitions and shows will be held across the city and suburbs. For more information, visit chicagofashionweek.com.

About the Sr. Diona McNichols Costume Collection at Dominican University

The Sr. Diona McNichols Costume Collection has grown into a valuable educational resource, currently housing approximately 300 pieces of historically significant apparel spanning from the 1850s to the present. The collection was initially founded by Professor Rita Sisko, who began accepting donations and acquiring garments from museums. Over the years, other faculty members continued to contribute to the collection, which includes items from museum collections, university alumni donations, and individual acquisitions.

The collection is named in honor of Sr. Diona McNichols, OP, professor emerita at Dominican University, who taught the history of costume and was instrumental in formalizing the collection. Sr. Diona's work laid the foundation for a repository of apparel artifacts that would serve as an important academic resource for future generations.

In 2010, Professor Susan M. Strawn played a pivotal role in organizing and archiving the collection. Beginning in February of that year, Strawn undertook the meticulous process of documenting, photographing, and preserving each garment in the collection. She completed this work before her retirement in 2015. This process ensured that the collection remained accessible to Dominican students and faculty across disciplines.

About Dominican University
Founded in 1901, Dominican University is a comprehensive, coeducational Catholic institution with campuses in River Forest and Chicago. The university offers an associate of arts in liberal arts and sciences; bachelor's and master's degrees through the Rosary College of Arts, Education, and Sciences, the College of Business, Information Studies, and Technology, and the Borra College of Health Sciences; as well as doctoral programs in information studies and applied social justice.

As Chicago's premier Catholic Hispanic-Serving Institution, Dominican is consistently recognized as a leader in academic excellence and value. U.S. News & World Report ranks Dominican University in the top 25 of Midwest regional master's level universities, and #1 in Illinois for Best Value and ensuring the social mobility of its graduates.