Private arts university Savannah College of Art and Design is setting the table for its students’ study of luxury with a new exhibition at its Savannah campus.

Opened this fall quarter, “At the Designers’ Table: Iconic Evening Elegance” titles the school’s luxury archive and research center’s latest presentation. The show places pieces from Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Christian Dior, Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin on display, alongside original drawings from Schiaparelli.

“SCAD LUXE is a distinctive academic offering for the entire university, where students across disciplines — from fashion, luxury and brand management, fibers, jewelry, accessory design, industrial design, graphic design, illustration, and beyond — can discover the artistry and innovation of leading fashion houses firsthand,” said Kate Newell, executive dean of academic services at SCAD, in a statement.

“At the Designers’ Table: Iconic Evening Elegance captures why SCAD LUXE matters.”

Learning by the archive

Central to “At the Designers’ Table: Iconic Evening Elegance” is a formal tablescape housing the exhibition’s lots.

Each object illustrates a house’s signature codes, setting archival interpretations beside more recent ones to show how a founder’s vision is carried forward.

The show places pieces from Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Christian Dior, Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin on display, alongside original drawings from Schiaparelli. Image courtesy of SCAD

Introduced in 2025 at SCAD’s Savannah and Atlanta locations, SCAD LUXE gives students direct access to rare goods, bespoke design objects, couture garments, accessories and fine furnishings (see story).

The center serves as both a working classroom and exhibition space, open to students across the university’s programs. Earlier this year, the school received a $10 million endowment for its jewelry program (see story).

“Our students can trace house codes from a founder’s original vision to the way a new generation interprets them today, and in doing so they learn that true luxury is built on collaboration between designers and artisans and a relentless pursuit of precision,” Ms. Newell said.