Simon Doonan, photo by Albert SanchezBarneys New York creative ambassador-at-large Simon Doonan will present the Pratt Fashion Award for Lifetime Achievement to Harold Koda, former curator in charge at The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, at the Pratt Institute Fashion Show + Cocktail Benefit on May 5.

Pratt’s 117th runway show will spotlight inventive student designs from graduating seniors in Pratt’s fashion program. Pratt will recognize Koda for his outstanding fashion curatorship and scholarship, which have helped elevate fashion as an art form. Koda will be presented with the award during the show. Proceeds from the event will benefit scholarship funds and the Department of Fashion.

Each year, the Pratt Fashion Show features exemplary work by a select group of graduating Fashion Department seniors, as determined by a panel of industry experts. Under the leadership of Jennifer Minniti, who joined Pratt as fashion program chair in 2011, students are challenged to rethink the boundaries of fashion through a trans-disciplinary education that emphasizes inventive ideas and techniques.

Santander Universities, a division of Santander Bank, is the platinum sponsor of the Pratt Institute Fashion Show. Santander Universities is a philanthropic arm of the Santander Group that is focused on advancing the needs of society as a whole through higher education.

The runway show will be held at 6 PM on Thursday, May 5 at Spring Studios at 50 Varick Street in Manhattan, New York City. Click here for more information or to purchase tickets.

Image: Simon Doonan (photo: Albert Sanchez)