KENT, OH.- The School of Fashion at Kent State University announced British designer Dame Zandra Rhodes as the 2024 Hall of Fame Inductee.

In its 35th year, the prestigious Kent State School of Fashion Hall of Fame award celebrates the outstanding contributions to fashion made by an individual. The accolade honors the unique qualities of their leadership. It champions the aspiration and inspiration they and their business of fashion offer the next generation of fashion graduates at Kent State. Rhodes joins an illustrious group of inductees that includes Omar Salam, Kenneth Cole, Estee Lauder, Oscar de la Renta, Dana Buchman, Leonardo Ferragamo and Josie Natori.

"Dame Zandra Rhodes is a true icon, an inspiring artist with a unique command of patterns and colors in her fashion and textile designs. We are very honored to host her as our 2024 School of Fashion Hall of Fame Inductee and to have her join our community in April," said Mourad Krifa, Director of the School of Fashion.

Dame Zandra Rhodes is a British designer and pioneer of the fashion industry. In the early 1960s, Rhodes launched her iconic brand that took the fashion scene by storm with its fusion of print, textiles and pattern. Originally seen as “too extreme,” her bold designs earned her the nickname “the Princess of Punk,” and led her to dress household names like Freddie Mercury, Diana Ross, Barbara Striesand, Princess Anne and Princess Diana.

After over five decades of fashion collections, Rhodes has more recently focused on collaborations with lifestyle brands like IKEA of Sweden, Happy Socks and Poppy Lissiman. In 2020 Rhodes formed the Zandra Rhodes Foundation, providing the opportunity for aspiring designers, students, researchers, educators and artists to closely study her designs and techniques. Her passion for the next generation of creatives is initially what led her to engage with the School of Fashion at Kent State University.

"I am thrilled and honored to have been invited by Kent State's School of Fashion to be their 2024 Hall of Fame Inductee. It is a real privilege to become part of their fabulous community – I very much look forward to meeting all of the wonderful students and teachers," said Rhodes.

Rhodes will give an artist lecture at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 26 in Rockwell Hall to Kent State University students, industry and fashion enthusiasts. This lecture is free and open to the public.

Rhodes’ induction into the Kent State School of Fashion Hall of Fame will take place Saturday, April 27 as part of the Annual Fashion Show.