Each spring, the Nashville Symphony brings a top fashion designer from anywhere in the world to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center for the annual Symphony Fashion Show. Illustrious designers who have headlined past shows include Brandon Maxwell, Lela Rose, Carolina Herrera, Zang Toi and Jason Wu. Now in its 19th year, the event — presented in partnership with Gus Mayer and taking place April 23 — raises crucial funds for the symphony’s education and community initiatives, like music education program Accelerando. This year’s evening of high style will be headlined by Nepalese American designer Prabal Gurung.
Gurung is a perfect match, as he has spent years using his platform to advocate for human rights and uplift marginalized communities. Born in Singapore and raised in Kathmandu, Gurung studied fashion at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi, where he apprenticed with Indian designer Manish Arora. Having returned home to Nepal after school, Gurung was inspired by an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show about living your dream — he decided to move to the United States and further pursue design. While at the Parsons School of Design in New York City, Gurung interned for fashion icon Donna Karan. He then worked for global lifestyle brand Cynthia Rowley before serving as design director for Bill Blass. In 2009, Gurung struck out on his own to create the eponymous design label PRABAL GURUNG.
Prabal Gurung
Using designs that speak to both Eastern and Western culture, Gurung filled his fall 2024 collection with bold colors and flowing yet structured fabrics. Shearling plays a prominent role in many of the looks, and Gurung’s more feminine pieces offer a kind of comfort-in-strength quality. The collection — aptly named West Meets East — will be on view at the Symphony Fashion Show in April.
Known for using his celebrity, his megaphone and at times his runways to send a message, Gurung has worked to uplift communities in both the United States and Nepal.
“It’s an honor to headline the 2024 Symphony Fashion Show and to have the opportunity to showcase my newest collection at the beautiful Schermerhorn Symphony Center,” says Gurung in a release. “I am passionate about artistic expression in every form, so it’s truly a joy to support the Nashville Symphony’s educational programs through this wonderful event.”Â
Throughout his career, Gurung has earned a range of accolades. In 2010, he received the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award and was runner-up for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. The next year, he received a USA Network Character Approved Award, was named goodwill ambassador of anti-trafficking group Maiti Nepal, was a finalist for a Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award and received the CFDA Swarovski Award for Womenswear. He was also named Designer of the Year at the 2022 American Image Awards.
For a look at the designer’s spring and pre-fall collections, visit our sister publication Nfocus.
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