Best in Show: PRAXIS3 at IIDA Dressed 2025

Dressed is an annual runway event by the IIDA Georgia Chapter that challenges interior design teams to create wearable garments almost entirely from design-material manufacturer products (e.g., wallcoverings, upholstery, laminates, and tiles). The show highlights creativity, industry-partnerships, and the unexpected intersection of architecture/design with fashion. With a total of ten teams participating, this was the first year where multiple models from the same team could walk the runway.

This year’s theme, Euandria (yoo-An-dree-uh), draws on Greek mythology, highlighting conflict and rivalry, bringing the story to life on the runway. Your authors and runway models, Sergio and Eden, both grew up obsessed with Greek mythology. That shared passion allowed us to tell a story that we understood deeply and believed the audience could truly appreciate.

Before we get into the designs, let’s take a look at the myth behind them. Our team selected a lesser-known narrative centered on betrayal and revenge: the myth of Apollo vs. Python. This is a story of gods, vengeance, and identity. Hera, Zeus’s wife, was jealous of Leto’s affair with her husband, which resulted in the birth of Apollo. Out of vengeance, Hera unleashes Python, the serpent, to hunt Leto. Our garments and runway performance depict the battle between the newborn Apollo, armed with a bow and arrows, and the fearsome Python. To manage the monumental task of taking on two characters, we divided our efforts into Team Apollo and Team Python, allowing each to focus fully on bringing our respective characters to life. We designed both looks to highlight the contrast between the characters: Apollo’s radiance versus Python’s primal power.

Apollo’s garment captures the god of sun and light with structured, confident lines and highly embellished details inspired by Dolce & Gabbana’s 2025 Alta Sartoria. We reimagined the collection’s rich burgundies and golds in a modern Grecian style, incorporating celestial accents and glass mosaic tiles to create shimmer and presence on stage. The youthful, bold design reflected Apollo’s energy and divine confidence.

Python’s design served as the darker, grounded counterpart. Deep greens, layered multicolored scales, and a coiling silhouette built from foam noodles gave the impression of a serpent before striking; a menacing headpiece completed the transformation.

Laminates and metals in coordinating tones reinforced form and structure, and upholstery and drapery fabrics added texture and depth—from Apollo’s cream and velvet elements to Python’s scaled layers. An interpretive battle scene with a “blood” reveal was a dramatic climax to the performance. Together, the two designs told a clear visual story, balancing light and darkness, elegance and menace, while allowing each character to shine individually and in contrast on the runway.

We were fortunate to have the support of incredible material sponsors: HBF for textiles, SoHo Studio for tile, and Wilsonart for laminates. Their products didn’t just build garments—they shaped characters, symbolism, and the overall transformation.

We also faced plenty of obstacles along the way—materials that didn’t behave as expected, fabric that needed reworking, and constant redesign. Combined with the performance aspect, each challenge pushed us to be more resourceful and creative. The competition was incredibly tough, with impressive creativity and craftsmanship across all teams, but we were proud of what we brought to the stage: a powerful concept, cohesive storytelling, and two complex, beautifully executed designs. It was an honor to walk in the show representing PRAXIS3, and while winning Best of Show was an incredible moment, what stood out most was the sense of collaboration and creativity within the firm—a spirit that truly makes PRAXIS3 shine like Apollo’s golden chariot blazing across the sky.