‘All Her Hard Work Paid Off’

Recent Dominican University graduate Brianna Yanga’s talents in fashion design earned her recognition this year from a prestigious Chicago-based organization. 

Yanga’s senior collection, “Transit Opulence,” inspired by public transportation, won second place at the Driehaus Awards for Fashion Excellence runway show on May 16 in Chicago. She was also presented with the Neiman Marcus Distinguished Designer Award, earning her the opportunity to have her designs displayed at the Neiman Marcus store in downtown Chicago. 

The Driehaus Design Initiative awards celebrate the achievements of Chicago’s emerging fashion talent, like Yanga, who has a passion in costume design and hopes to work in the film industry. 

“Brianna is a fantastic designer with immense potential,” said Melissa Carr, associate professor and department chair of apparel design and merchandising at Dominican. “Throughout her four years at Dominican, she demonstrated remarkable drive and enthusiasm for her studies. She excelled as co-director of the fashion show while completing her senior collection. I am pleased that she took second place and was recognized by Neiman Marcus. All her hard work paid off.”

Yanga, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was drawn to costume design after enrolling at Dominican. She found a mentor in McKinley Johnson, fashion lecturer, who also works in professional costume design. 

“I mentioned to him I was interested in costumes and this opened up a new world,” Yanga recalled. “I was able to pick his brain all the time, to see what he does and how he does it.”

Johnson said Yanga’s strengths go far beyond fashion design.

“Brianna is about empowering others and helping them spiritually,” he said, noting her involvement in the Beloved Community, a faith and leadership development fellowship hosted by University Ministry. “This young lady is going to do incredible things because she is amazing and because she cares. People will be drawn to that. She will accomplish so much.”

Yanga is also the recipient of Dominican University’s 2024 Dorothy Reiner Mulroy Award for academic excellence and leadership.