PGAL Brings a Little Pop to IIDA Cosmo Couture 2026

Architecture met fashion this October as PGAL’s Alexandria team took part in the 2026 IIDA Cosmo Couture fundraising event at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC.

Hosted by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Mid-Atlantic Chapter, Cosmo Couture is a biennial fashion show where local architecture and interior design firms team up with industry manufacturers to create runway-ready garments using unconventional materials. Now in its 14th edition, the event brings together the region’s design community for an evening of creativity, friendly competition, and fundraising in support of IIDA Mid-Atlantic’s student initiatives, professional development programs, and community outreach efforts.

This year’s theme, “POP,” gave participating teams plenty of room to get creative, and PGAL’s Alexandria office teamed up with Takeform, a signage company, to bring its own interpretation to life using window films, vinyl wall coverings, and polycarbonate supports.

PGAL’s Stephen Duranske stepped into the spotlight as this year’s model, adding a little extra fun to the creative process! With Stephen on board, the team got to work taking measurements and brainstorming their own take on the “POP” theme. They eventually landed on the idea of a bubble bursting, with an ambitious plan to create a surprise reveal that would bring the garment to life right on the runway.

Of course, turning that idea into an actual garment was another challenge entirely. The team met with Takeform’s engineers to see if the concept was even feasible. After plenty of testing, 3D modeling, and teamwork, they were able to transform rigid signage materials into something resembling a delicate bubble.

On the day of the fashion show, Stephen started by getting his makeup done before heading to the National Building Museum, where around 30 design firms from the area had gathered for the event. The team participated in an early round of judging by local fashion industry professionals, giving them a chance to share their creative process, explain their design decisions, and answer questions about how they brought their concept to life.

After that, it was on to the main event!

The fashion show itself was an incredible experience, and the audience cheered as PGAL’s bubble finally “popped” on the runway, revealing an interior decorated with hundreds of hand-folded origami flowers made by everyone in the Alexandria office. It was the perfect finishing touch to a garment that had been a true team effort from the very beginning.

Beyond the runway, Cosmo Couture was a fun opportunity for the Alexandria team to experiment with new materials, collaborate with Takeform, and get creative in a way they don’t often get to in their everyday work. From brainstorming the initial concept to folding hundreds of tiny flowers, everyone had a hand in bringing the final look together.

The entire team had an amazing time, and they’re already excited to see what the theme will be for the next Cosmo Couture!