Traveling through midtown or Buckhead, they’re hard to miss – bright purple banners situated vertically along street posts that read “SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion.”

All signs point to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) – Atlanta campus.

On the heels of global recognition as the #1 fashion program in the world for “Best Learning Experience,” and “Best Long-Term Value,” SCAD Atlanta recently unveiled one of the largest fashion museums in the United States – SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion.

Not only is SCAD FASH one of the largest fashion museums in the country, it’s the only fashion museum in the southeast.

Nearly 2,000 visitors came and went on the opening day of the SCAD FASH inaugural exhibition entitled, Oscar de la Renta.

The Oscar de la Renta exhibition honors the designer and his contributions to fashion at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

“One of the wonderful stories to tell is about the longstanding relationship SCAD had with Oscar. He came to SCAD in 2001. He was the first recipient of the André Leon Talley lifetime achievement award and has just been so generous throughout the years,” said Laurie Farrell, executive director of SCAD museums and exhibitions.

The Oscar de la Renta exhibition showcases 84 designs worn by the likes of Anna Wintour, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

The exhibition also showcases a de la Renta dress on loan from former first lady, Laura Bush, who recently gave SCAD FASH high marks via her personal Facebook account.

Beyond the gallery space, SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion offers a film salon. It isn’t your typical cinematic space. Decorated with gold plated chairs, faux fur pillows, contemporary low-sitting couches, track lights, and book shelves lined with style books, the salon showcases fashion-related film and video.

Ovation for Oscar, a film commissioned by SCAD and constructed by SCAD alumni, played on a flat screen monitor during the Oscar de la Renta exhibition. The film documents the journey of Sloane Mayberry, a student who worked as an intern for de la Renta, as she prepares for the first Oscar de la Renta exhibition shown at the SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah earlier this year.

The exhibition was entitled Oscar de la Renta: His Legendary World of Style. It was the first exhibition to celebrate Oscar de la Renta since his death in October of 2014. André Leon Talley, author of ‘Oscar de la Renta: His Legendary World of Style,’ and contributing editor at Vogue, curated the exhibition.

“The SCAD FASH inaugural exhibition is a complete expansion and re-creation of what was realized in Savannah. We had in Savannah 56 looks in the show. They were all by Oscar de la Renta. At SCAD FASH I am happy to say we also have the participation of Peter Copping who is the new creative director of Oscar de la Renta,” said Farrell.

Onlookers marveled at the de la Renta designs as they navigated the museum.

“What’s exciting is that this venue is going to be open to the public. This will become a destination like the Coca Cola museum, except more beautiful,” said Bob Johnson, an Atlanta native visiting the museum with friends from a German consulate in town.

Exhibition directory in hand, the group stopped to examine a cashmere and satin dress.

“I think it’s so sad that we don’t do that anymore. Where we have clothes that just are matched to be worn the way they are. It’s so beautiful with the bouclé. So gorgeous,” said one of Johnson’s friends.

No details were left undone at SCAD FASH. Mannequins were donned with head pieces, decorative beading and feathers around the eyes, and silk fabric at the feet.

Rafael Gomes, fashion exhibitions consultant at SCAD FASH, is responsible for designing the intricate details.

“I was working with Vivienne Westwood in the couture department for 2 1/2 years and I used to do embellishments for belts, for bridals, for handbags and embroideries and this is how the idea came to embellish the mannequins as well, in a very subtle way,” said Gomes.

Originally from London, Rafael calls Atlanta the New York of the south. When asked what the gatekeepers of fashion (in places like New York) would have to say about fashion in Atlanta, Rafael sounded optimistic about what Atlanta has to offer the world of fashion.

“I think the diversity is there and I haven't seen much myself because I am brand new in the city. I'm very very curious and I'm very excited about it and I think SCADFASH will help a lot as well,” said Gomes.

In addition to the 10,000 square foot gallery space, 27,000 square feet of academic studio space is allotted to SCAD students.

Although SCAD FASH is a new fixture in the bustling city of Atlanta, its enormous foot print, and the mounting excitement from the public, makes SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion a staple among other popular attractions in Atlanta.

“I think SCAD FASH is the most happening thing in fashion, in Atlanta, at the moment. I think it’s going to be a natural resource, and a cultural destination that people will gravitate to,” said Farrell.

“Atlanta is known for fashion. There is a wonderful array of designers who have opened shops here. A lot of really wonderful talent that lives in Atlanta. In fact, last night, we had Merline Labissiere, who was a former SCAD student, and Edmond Newton, who are both on Project Runway this season, at our private preview,” said Farrell.

Project Runway is a hit television series on Bravo, featuring aspiring fashion designers.

“Edmond who lives in Atlanta, could not stop talking about how wonderful SCAD FASH is for Atlanta and how wonderful it will be to have this resource of fashion and film available for designers at all stages of their career,” Farrell added.

Upcoming shows at the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion will feature i feel ya: SCAD + André 3000 Benjamin, and Art x Fashion, which examines the interrelated influences of art and design.

This article also appears on Medium.