Jack Stein — BFA Fashion Design 2025

Collection

This collection explores the “facade of a family”—the contrast between public image and private reality. Drawing from my own upbringing, I reflect on how midcentury design shaped my understanding of family life. Known for its clean lines and curated optimism, this aesthetic mirrors the idealized version of family we often present to the world. But behind that polished surface lies something more chaotic and raw. I juxtapose midcentury design's calm, structured beauty with the unfiltered realities of domestic life to reveal how those contradictions coexist. Humor and sarcasm were central in my home—tools for masking tension and maintaining normalcy. I use sarcasm as a narrative thread throughout the collection, guiding the viewer from a refined, controlled exterior to an expressive, unguarded interior. As the designs progress, they shift from tailored midcentury forms to abstract, fragmented pieces that capture the emotional truth behind the facade.

Design elements within a home can quietly reflect the emotional and psychological dynamics of the people who live there. A hallmark of midcentury design is integrating the natural world into interior spaces—bringing the outside in. Real wood was central to this principle, turning a hard, structural material into a representation of warmth and nature. In my childhood home, natural wood is used throughout the living spaces, embodying this concept strikingly and unconventionally. Though made of manmade plywood, the piece evoked organic forms while maintaining a sense of control through its near-perfect symmetry. It was both natural and artificial, intimate and performative—an object that balanced raw expression with carefully curated appearance, much like our family dynamic.

Bio

Jack Stein draws deeply from his upbringing, which was rooted in a creatively rich environment and a sense of freedom that encouraged self-discovery. Growing up surrounded by art and expression allowed Jack to explore his identity from an early age. As a queer artist and creator, he has always been engaged in the act of making—something that found a natural outlet in fashion. Jack explores the intersections of shape, texture, color, and technology through his work, blending these elements into expressive, wearable art. His interpretation of fashion is unique: it’s filtered through a lens of satire and joy. He challenges the fashion industry's often rigid or serious nature by injecting playfulness and humor into his creations. For Jack, fashion is more than just clothing—it’s a celebration of individuality, a space for experimentation, and a way to reconnect with the simple, often overlooked joy that comes from getting dressed.

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