Style August 19, 2019

Disney on Broadway iconic leading ladies get a modern makeover for a magical design challenge

WATCH: News headlines today: Dec. 23, 2020

Disney is celebrating 25 years on Broadway by partnering up with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) for a magical design challenge.

The challenge

FIT Fashion design students were challenged to create a day and evening look inspired by Disney on Broadway's leading female characters.

From "Frozen's" Princess Anna to "The Lion King's" Nala, nearly 100 sketches were submitted reimagining Disney heroines with contemporary looks. Ultimately, 10 design students were selected to participate in the challenge and bring their sketches to life.

Disney
Patti Murin (Anna, OBC 'Frozen') and Yelayny Placencia (FIT student) review design sketches for Anna inspired garments.

The student finalists, who are from all over the world, will have their garments on display in an exhibition at FIT's Art & Design Gallery in New York City from Sept. 19 to Oct. 6, 2019.

"We are delighted to partner with FIT and their talented students on this special design challenge," said Robin Wyatt, vice president of marketing for Disney Theatrical Productions. "Each designer created contemporary sketches that are all unique interpretations of our beloved Disney on Broadway characters and we look forward to seeing their garments come to fruition."

Disney
Seohee 'Ruby' Shin (FIT student) works on design for Nala ('The Lion King') inspired garments.
Editor's Picks

Now, for the first time in forever, some of our favorite princesses are getting a major wardrobe update -- one that the actors who play the roles on Broadway are excited about.

"I would definitely love to wear something like this on stage or in real-life," Ariel Jacobs, who plays Jasmine in Disney's "Aladdin" on Broadway, told "Good Morning America."

Disney
Annette Stone (FIT student) and Arielle Jacobs (Jasmine, 'Aladdin') review design sketches for Jasmine inspired garments.

The success of the students in this project is in part due to the fact that FIT offers five concentrations – sportswear, knitwear, children's wear, special occasion and intimate apparel – and many of the reimagined designs incorporate elements of those concentrations, according to Gerard Dellova, an assistant professor in fashion design.

"For example, Ariel from 'The Little Mermaid' incorporates elements of swimwear and special occasion, whereas with Belle from 'Beauty and the Beast,' there are elements of intimate apparel coming through," Dellova said.

The designs

Annette Stone: Jasmine from "Aladdin"

Stone is a fourth-year student from northern California.

Annette Stone
Annette Stone, a fourth-year student designing for Jasmine from "Aladdin."

Yelayny Placencia: Anna from "Frozen."

Placencia is a fourth-year student from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Yelayny Placencia
Yelayny Placencia, a fourth-year student designing for Anna from "Frozen."

Sooyoung Yun: "Mary Poppins"

Yun is a fourth-year student from South Korea.

Disney
Sooyoung Yun (FIT student) displays design sketches for Mary Poppins inspired garments.

Ruby SeoHee Shin: Nala from "The Lion King"

Shin is a fourth-year student from South Korea.

Ruby SeoHee Shin
Ruby SeoHee Shin, a fourth-year student designing for Nala from "The Lion King."

Paige Walker: Belle from "Beauty and the Beast"

Walker is a fourth-year student from Ontario.

Paige Walker
Paige Walker, a fourth-year student designing for Belle from "Beauty and the Beast."

Marianna Gonzalez: Jane from "Tarzan"

Gonzalez is a fourth-year student from Brownsville, Texas.

Disney
Jenn Gambatese (Jane, OBC 'Tarzan') and Marianna Gonzalez (FIT student) review design sketches for Jane inspired garments.

Baoqing Yu: Ariel from "The Little Mermaid"

Yu is a second-year student from Taishan, Guangdong, China.

Disney
Baoqing Yu (FIT student) works on design for Ariel ('The Little Mermaid') inspired garments.

Ashna Moogi: Elsa from "Frozen"

Moogi is a third-year student from Bangalore, India.

Ashna Moogi
Ashna Moogi, a third-year student designing for Elsa from "Frozen."

Eunhye Jo: Rafiki from "The Lion King"

Jo is a third-year student from Seoul, South Korea.

Disney
Eunhye Jo (FIT student) and Tshidi Manye (Rafiki 'The Lion King') review design sketches for Rafiki inspired garments.

Georgianna Wells: Katherine from "Newsies"

Wells is a fourth-year student from Memphis, Tennessee.

Georgianna Wells
Georgianna Wells, a fourth-year student designing for Katherine from "Newsies."

We'll reveal the designs on September 12th!

The Walt Disney company is the parent company of ABC News.