Material Runway- Nautical Nouveau

Inspired by this year’s Nautical Nouveau theme, each team will create a runway look influenced by an animal from the Aquarium.
About this Event

Material Runway 2026: Nautical Nouveau
South Carolina Aquarium

Set against the stunning backdrop of the South Carolina Aquarium, this year’s Material Runway invites guests to experience Nautical Nouveau—an evening where coastal elegance meets high-design innovation. Inspired by the romance of the sea and the refinement of modern maritime style, design teams will reinterpret nautical influences through an elevated, fashion-forward lens, using commercial and industrial materials provided by sponsoring reps to create breathtaking ocean couture.

Each team will draw inspiration from an animal in the Aquarium, with installations stationed throughout the exhibits. Guests will receive a map and “passport” to explore each design area. After visiting every team and collecting a stamp from each stop, attendees will vote for their Crowd Favorite.

Expect sculptural silhouettes, unexpected textures, and imaginative interpretations that transform the familiar language of the coast into something entirely new. Guests are encouraged to embrace the theme and arrive in their best Nautical Nouveau attire—elegant, playful, or flamboyant. (Kindly note: no feathers — including boas — and no glitter.)

More than a showcase, Material Runway is an experience: a celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and community, where art, design, and a touch of seaside glamour converge for an unforgettable evening of inspiration, connection, and undeniable fun.

Meet the 2026 Design Teams

This year's talented architecture and design teams have each selected an animal from the South Carolina Aquarium as the inspiration for their one-of-a-kind wearable creation. Using innovative materials from our sponsoring manufacturers, each team will transform their chosen species into a couture runway design that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the beauty of the natural world.

2026 Design Teams & Animal Inspirations

• LS3P — Queen Angelfish
• McMillan Pazdan Smith — Lionfish
• GBA — Bald Eagle
• Little Diversified Architectural Consulting — Moon Jelly
• Moseley — Giant Pacific Octopus
• Fire & Fig — Eastern Indigo Snake
• Meadors — Sea Urchin
• Ferrara Buist — Southern Stingray
• The Middleton Group — Roseate Spoonbill
• GROHE — Porcupinefish

Watch these remarkable teams bring their inspiration to life as they compete on the runway for top honors in one of Charleston's most anticipated design events. After the runway show, guests are invited to explore each finished design displayed throughout the aquarium alongside the animal that inspired it, then cast their vote for the coveted Crowd Favorite Award.