What if fashion wasn’t just what we wear—but who we are becoming?
The upcoming exhibition of
Eric N. Mack at the Wexner Center for the Arts is a bold, breathtaking reminder that fashion is revelation. It is reclamation. Resistance. And when applied with intention, it becomes one of the most powerful tools for self-discovery. Fashion—at its best—helps us know who we are.
Mack’s work, layered with textiles and history, color and memory, speaks the language we live and breathe every day atColumbus Fashion Academy. His practice makes visible what we’ve always believed: fabric holds stories. And when we invite our youth to create with it, they don’t just make clothes—they uncover truths. They design meaning. They help us all reconnect to our “why.”
Last month, I had the honor of sharing the stage with
Gaëtane Verna, Executive Director of the Wexner Center, and other remarkable leaders during the panel
“Arts and Culture as a Catalyst for Change” at the historic
Columbus Athletic Club. We explored how the arts develop transferable skills and how creativity isn’t a luxury—it’s essential. It's survival. It’s strategy. And it's how we build future-ready communities.
The more I learn about Eric N. Mack’s return to Columbus, the more I feel the alignment. It’s like a shared heartbeat. A signal that our city is ready to embrace fashion not as frivolity—but as fuel. A call to see clothing as canvas, and to honor the creators—old and young—who dare to stitch themselves into the fabric of culture.
At
Columbus Fashion Academy, our students deconstruct denim, upcycle scarves, and design runway looks not for trends—but for truth. We defend and practice the human right of artistic freedom. Full stop.
Our students ask the same questions Mack poses:Who am I in this world? What do I carry with me? What do I dare to show?
This exhibition isn’t just exciting—it’s essential. Because when fashion becomes a springboard for knowing ourselves, it becomes a bridge to knowing each other. It becomes a power that benefits all. After all—we all get dressed every day.
We need more than seasonal cool events and a bunch of fashion designers in order to be a fashion capital. We need intention and liberation. A culture where every person—fashion lover or not—feels free and safe to wear what they love, every single day. Period.
That’s how we build a future worth wearing. That’s how we become a true fashion capital.
