Disney on Broadway iconic leading ladies get a modern makeover for a magical design challenge
Who needs a fairy godmother when you have these fierce FIT students?
Disney is celebrating 25 years on Broadway by partnering up with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) for a magical design challenge.
The challenge
FIT Fashion design students were challenged to create a day and evening look inspired by Disney on Broadway's leading female characters.
From "Frozen's" Princess Anna to "The Lion King's" Nala, nearly 100 sketches were submitted reimagining Disney heroines with contemporary looks. Ultimately, 10 design students were selected to participate in the challenge and bring their sketches to life.
The student finalists, who are from all over the world, will have their garments on display in an exhibition at FIT's Art & Design Gallery in New York City from Sept. 19 to Oct. 6, 2019.
"We are delighted to partner with FIT and their talented students on this special design challenge," said Robin Wyatt, vice president of marketing for Disney Theatrical Productions. "Each designer created contemporary sketches that are all unique interpretations of our beloved Disney on Broadway characters and we look forward to seeing their garments come to fruition."
Now, for the first time in forever, some of our favorite princesses are getting a major wardrobe update -- one that the actors who play the roles on Broadway are excited about.
"I would definitely love to wear something like this on stage or in real-life," Ariel Jacobs, who plays Jasmine in Disney's "Aladdin" on Broadway, told "Good Morning America."
The success of the students in this project is in part due to the fact that FIT offers five concentrations – sportswear, knitwear, children's wear, special occasion and intimate apparel – and many of the reimagined designs incorporate elements of those concentrations, according to Gerard Dellova, an assistant professor in fashion design.
"For example, Ariel from 'The Little Mermaid' incorporates elements of swimwear and special occasion, whereas with Belle from 'Beauty and the Beast,' there are elements of intimate apparel coming through," Dellova said.
The designs
Annette Stone: Jasmine from "Aladdin"
Stone is a fourth-year student from northern California.
Yelayny Placencia: Anna from "Frozen."
Placencia is a fourth-year student from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Sooyoung Yun: "Mary Poppins"
Yun is a fourth-year student from South Korea.
Ruby SeoHee Shin: Nala from "The Lion King"
Shin is a fourth-year student from South Korea.
Paige Walker: Belle from "Beauty and the Beast"
Walker is a fourth-year student from Ontario.
Marianna Gonzalez: Jane from "Tarzan"
Gonzalez is a fourth-year student from Brownsville, Texas.
Baoqing Yu: Ariel from "The Little Mermaid"
Yu is a second-year student from Taishan, Guangdong, China.
Ashna Moogi: Elsa from "Frozen"
Moogi is a third-year student from Bangalore, India.
Eunhye Jo: Rafiki from "The Lion King"
Jo is a third-year student from Seoul, South Korea.
Georgianna Wells: Katherine from "Newsies"
Wells is a fourth-year student from Memphis, Tennessee.
We'll reveal the designs on September 12th!
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