The newest exhibition at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery is a compelling solo exhibition by rising fashion designer Dillon Napier, showcasing two of his most acclaimed collections: Lest We Forget and HanZen. The exhibition is open to the public through Dec. 5.
A graduate of Iowa State University’s bachelor’s and master’s programs in apparel merchandising and design, Napier also studied at the prestigious London College of Fashion. His design philosophy centers on meticulous craftsmanship, fabric storytelling, and an enduring respect for both cultural tradition and future-focused sustainability.
As a featured designer at Omaha Fashion Week and Shop Supervisor at Iowa State’s Student Innovation Center, Napier is both a maker and a mentor—balancing artistry with technological advancement in the fashion industry.
At the heart of the exhibition are two distinct yet interconnected bodies of work:
HanZen (March 2025)
Rooted in the principles of mindfulness, balance, and material integrity, HanZen is a zero-waste, sustainable fashion collection that celebrates the textile heritage of East Asia. Drawing inspiration from hanbok, kimono, sari draping, and Zen aesthetics, each garment in HanZen is constructed using intentional, waste-free patterning techniques. The name combining "Han," representing East Asian cultural heritage, and "Zen," symbolizing simplicity and harmony speaks to the spirit of the collection.
In a fashion landscape dominated by fast production and environmental waste, HanZen offers a contemplative alternative: fashion that is as responsible as it is beautiful. The collection invites viewers to reconsider their relationship with clothing—moving toward a wardrobe that honors craft, culture, and the planet.
Lest We Forget (August 2024)
In stark emotional contrast, Lest We Forget is a deeply personal homage to grief, family, and the enduring influence of memory. Created during Napier’s time in London, the collection was born in the wake of his grandmother’s passing, a loss he processed from afar while immersed in the historic heart of British fashion.
Through timeless silhouettes like wool coats and tea dresses, Lest We Forget blends mid-20th-century elegance with modern refinement. Echoing the philosophy of “Moving Forward, Looking Back,” the collection is as much a tribute to London’s sartorial history as it is to personal legacy. It encourages viewers to consider how memory shapes not just our stories, but the garments we choose to wear in them.
The Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery, which is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is located on the second floor of the Gwendolyn Newkirk Human Sciences Building on East Campus.
Learn more about the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery and its current and upcoming exhibitions at https://textilegallery.unl.edu/.
College of Education and Human Sciences
Textiles, Merchandising & Fashion Design
