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27 June 2026 Hetzendorf's 'Umbruch': A Fashion School Marks Two Transitions
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The annual graduation presentation of Modeschule Hetzendorf combined fashion, education and institutional change. Presented under the title "Umbruch" ("Transition" or "Turning Point"), the 2026 show transformed the Schloss Hetzendorf park into an open-air runway where more than 200 garments and design projects reflected the diversity of the school's programmes. At the same time, the evening marked the farewell of long-serving director Monika Kycelt and the announcement of Kevin Knabe as her successor.
• More than 200 student designs were presented at the annual graduation show of Vienna's Modeschule Hetzendorf on 23 June. Fashion as a Reflection of ChangeThe theme "Umbruch" extended beyond the collections themselves. Students explored personal experiences, social issues, hopes and uncertainties through fashion, textile design, knitwear, millinery and product design. The title also mirrored a real institutional transition, as the school prepares for new leadership after nearly two decades under Kycelt.The graduation show has become one of Austria's most visible showcases for emerging designers, attracting representatives from fashion, culture, education and the creative industries to Vienna each year. A Farewell After Seventeen YearsMonika Kycelt has led the Modeschule Hetzendorf since the 2009/10 school year. During her tenure she strengthened the school's international profile while maintaining its combination of creative experimentation, craftsmanship and practical education. Throughout her leadership, collaboration with companies and cultural institutions became an important part of students' education, allowing classroom work to connect with real production and industry requirements.At the conclusion of the show, students, teachers and guests acknowledged her final presentation as director with standing ovations, underlining the significance of her contribution to one of Austria's best-known fashion schools. An Educational Perspective for the Next ChapterFrom September, Kevin Knabe will assume the role of director. Besides his work in public relations and project management at the school, Knabe has taught ethics education and didactics at the University of Vienna and has been involved in teacher education at the University College of Teacher Education Vienna.His academic focus lies in ethics within educational practice rather than fashion ethics. Nevertheless, ethical thinking increasingly intersects with fashion education, where questions surrounding sustainability, fair working conditions, responsible design and intellectual property have become part of contemporary professional practice. From Fashion School to WorkplaceOne example of applied learning was the presentation of new workwear concepts for Trzesniewski, Vienna's traditional open-faced sandwich specialist founded in 1902 by Franciszek Trzesniewski. The company, whose historic flagship shop has long been located at Dorotheergasse 1, is known for its hand-prepared sandwiches.Students from the third and fourth years developed new corporate clothing for Trzesniewski employees as part of a design competition. The winning concepts, presented on the runway by Trzesniewski staff themselves, will be produced by the Vienna-based company Berufskleidung Walter. Rather than focusing only on appearance, the project required students to balance design with functionality, durability and everyday workplace requirements—illustrating how fashion education increasingly includes practical collaboration with established businesses. Images: Outgoing director Monika Kycelt with designated successor Kevin Knabe at the 2026 Hetzendorf graduation show (left); Trzesniewski employees present the winning student-designed workwear on the runway (right). © Katharina Schiffl |