Costume Designer Brianna Yanga Awarded by Driehaus Design Initiative

Brianna Yanga ’24 took home two honors during the prestigious Driehaus Awards for Fashion Excellence runway show, held May 16 in Chicago.

Yanga was awarded second place for her fashion collection “Transit Opulence,” which was featured in Dominican University’s 2024 Spring Fashion Show. She received a $7,000 cash prize.

Additionally, Yanga was presented with the Neiman Marcus Distinguished Designer Award and her designs will be featured on display at the Neiman Marcus store at 737 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago.

The Driehaus Design Initiative awards celebrate the achievements of Chicago’s emerging fashion talent, like Brianna, who recently graduated from Dominican University with degrees in fashion design and fashion merchandising. Yanga’s passion is in costume design, and she 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 is also the recipient of Dominican University’s 2024 Dorothy Reiner Mulroy Award for academic excellence and leadership.

Also participating in the Driehaus Fashion Excellence awards show were recent DU graduates and designers Azulo Cazares and Mia Hitterman. Cazares' senior collection, “Alchemy Blue," was inspired by 1980s anime, and Hitterman's collection, “Serene Monuments,” was inspired by Chinese culture and the avant-garde.