Each year, the week before Silver Needle Runway show, we have a panel of judges made up of industry professionals who critique our senior designers’ collections called Senior Thesis Presentation. This presentation prepares our senior design students to enter the fashion industry after graduation. One of the design students is also chosen by the judges to receive the Senior Designer of the Year award.
Leander Trotter
Leander Trotter is a 2019 Marist Fashion Design Alumni, and the recipient of both the Silver Needle Runway Outstanding Collection Award and Outstanding Portfolio Award for his Senior Thesis Collection. Passionate about his work, Trotter has much experience in designing Outerwear, Fleece Tops, Accessories, Swimwear, and Sleepwear. After college, Trotter started as an Assistant Designer at Abercrombie & Fitch Co., before moving up to Assistant Designer of Fleece Tops and eventually becoming the Associate Designer for the product category. From there, he moved to Guess and Kenneth Cole where he became an Associate Outwear Designer for men. Currently, Trotter is the Associate Outerwear Designer for Andrew Marc Men’s of the G-III Apparel Group.
Isabel Holden
Isabel Holden earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion/Apparel Design from Marist College in 2020. In her time at Marist, she participated in the Study Abroad Programs in both Florence and Manhattan, and was a member of Fashion Inc. Club and Ethical Fashion Initiative. Upon graduating, Holden became an Assistant Denim Designer for Lucky Brand Jeans, where she designed denim product categories all the way from concept to completion. During her time in college and throughout her jobs, Holden spearheaded her own social media and business platform titled “IHOLDEN” which focused on new trends in fashion, upcycling, customization, and sustainability. While she continues to work on her own brand, Holden is currently an Associate Denim Designer for Veronica Brands.
Patrick Cupid
Patrick Cupid is a New York designer whose work combines the influences of the US with his experiences from traveling and working throughout Europe. American designer. His formal education is divided between F.I.T. and Parsons's prestigious schools in New York and the Politecnico di Milano. He has been designing clothes since he was a child and focuses on elegant womenswear with striking color combinations. Over the last ten years, Patrick has been working between the States and Europe as a consultant designer and visual stylist, carefully compiling a design vocabulary uniquely his own. Syllable by syllable building his own language that has roots as much in the deep cultural wealth of Europe as the rhythmic speed and seduction of New York, his hometown and base.
Marissa Wilson
Marrisa Wilson is a first generation Guyanese-American designer raised in New Jersey. She also is a Marist Fashion Design Alumni who has a great amount of experience under her belt. She has worked for companies such as Maggy London, J. Mendel, Oscar de la Renta, Rag & Bone, Calvin Klein, & DKNY. Currently, Wilson is working as a Concept and Trend Director at CreateMe, while consecutively running her own brand, Marrisa Wilson NY. Founded in 2016, her brand is a womenswear apparel brand that incorporates cool, relaxed styling mixed with textiles and vibrant print artwork and all developed in-house. Her designs are heavily influenced by the aesthetics of soulful sounds and eclectic interior spaces, catering to the natural beauty of multicultural women everywhere. Her brand is based on two main values-- Self Love and Women Supporting Women, so MWNY’s customers can freely express their individuality through wardrobing. She is creating a community of strong, inspiring, and united women to celebrate and promote diversity in the fashion industry.
Luke Hall
Luke Hall is a graduate of the University of the Arts London, where he received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Fashion Design. He is currently a VP Designer for Ann Taylor Factory & Loft Outlet, and has been with the company for over 13 years. Within his role at Ann Taylor he oversaw design teams for Sweaters, Knit Tops, Woven Tops, Dresses, Jackets, Pants and Skirts. Prior to his experience at Ann Taylor Luke has worked as a lead designer for Sinclaire 10, and Twist.
Michael Jones
Michael Jones is an accomplished and well-regarded Design Executive with a solid track record of success through creative leadership, strong business acumen and highly effective team building with notable success at Global Brands Group, Li & Fung Americas, JC Penney and Liz Claiborne, Inc.
He has designed and managed products in the branded wholesale arena, private label arena, and the DTC arena.
Michael has held several Senior Design roles which has allowed him to work with various well-regarded names in the fashion industry such as, Amazon, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Costco, Sam’s Club, Saks Off 5th and many others. He was honored to spend four years in Hong Kong as part of an expat program for Liz Claiborne, Inc.
Michael obtained his B.F.A. in Fashion Design from the Parsons School of Design in New York, NY. He currently resides in New York City.
