Blog
Spent Studios • The Arrival of the Runway Rave in Seattle
Last Saturday, Spent Studios took over Seattle’s industrial stretch by weaving together the cultures of raving and runway.
Sarah Sheaffer
Oct 23, 2025
Overview
In a row of seemingly endless warehouses in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood, one stands out as heavy bass reverberates through the walls and a crowd begins to line up in front. People buzz with energy outside the venue, and no two are dressed alike as they get their tickets ready to scan into Spent Studios' newest event.
With a main storefront in Capitol Hill, ongoing releases of one-of-a-kind garments, and a host of myriad past projects ranging from markets to raves, Spent Studios is anything but routine in their ventures. Even the studio itself was born out of a change in the ordinary; Hudson W., the company’s creator and curator of their collections, shared how he didn’t always know the studio was in the cards for him.
In continuation of their innovative marketing style, the studio expanded its repertoire last Saturday by hosting a runway rave to showcase its new collection.
The show starts with sets by local DJs, hyping up the growing audience while the models prepare their pieces backstage.
“Usually with a rave or a concert it’s pretty easy. You just gotta post about it and promote it and then you’re good," said Hudson, “but this has been at least a month of making outfits, making sure everything fits the models, and casting the models. It takes hours to test people.”
Once the initial DJ sets finish, Alynn Harris is the first model to make her way out. Backgrounded by cheers and music mixed by DJ Lily Grace, she jaunts down the runway in an oversized puffer, mini shorts, fluffy boots and a tank with Spent Studios printed across the front.
“I think that Seattle brings in all the styles and aesthetics, and because there’s so many people from so many different backgrounds, it’s really exciting to see how everyone puts their own swagger on things,” Harris said. “Like here with Spent Studios, I got my boots, my tights on, while people got on their belts and their accessories, and it eats down.”
The vast majority of the pieces in the show and Spent Studio’s typical storefront are upcycled and thrifted, some branded with their logo and others simply styled.
“Being a thrifter and somewhat of a reseller makes you see how many clothes are just going to the dump, and it’s just cool to be able to make not as much go to the dump,” Hudson said.
“I got into this from selling and thrifting,” Hudson said. “ In 2020, during Corona, I got laid off. So I started making shit and selling stuff, and then I started doing this. I never planned on doing events.”
A combination of a rave and a fashion runway, the event reflects the creative ideologies of both the producers and attendants. Tam Tran, opening DJ for the runway rave and founder of TNT Studios, blends the lines between music and fashion in her daily life.
“I think raves are inherently a fashion statement. They're always themed, they always bring in a crowd who likes to dress up and dance,” Tran said. “I think dancing is also inherently fashionable.”
The second time Spent Studios has crossed together a rave and runway show, the night also demonstrates the businesses’ focus on pushing boundaries. As a lifelong resident of Seattle, Hudson expresses his desire to be at the forefront of a new era in the city's fashion.
“For fashion, [Seattle’s] not good.” Hudson said. “The only fashion that’s come out of here in the last 100 years is, like, Filson and Eddie Bower, and that’s different. That’s not fashion, really.”
Others involved in the industry express similar sentiments about Seattle’s developing fashion scene, and how events like the Spent Studio rave can act as an outlet, creating an innovative hub where ideas flourish.
“I feel like Seattle is the house of raving. The Gorge, The Tacoma Dome, WAMU, all those are very Seattle native. Seattle is very dance-y, rave-y, and I think it draws a crowd, but there isn’t a lot of experimentation,” Tam said. “Runway raves have been a thing for a long time but they haven't really hit Seattle yet, so this is a good start.”
Although Seattle’s presence in the fashion realm may lag behind that of other metropolitan cities, shows like the runway rave and the passion of everyone involved prove its undeniable development. The movements that arise in the future, begetting new eras and ideas in fashion, are the kind Spent Studios will be at the forefront of.
“From my perspective, it’s me and maybe three other fashion designers/brands that are actually doing anything that people know about,” Hudson said. “It's cool to be one of the people who’s trying to make it happen.”
Visit Spent Studios in person at 1432 12th Ave, Seattle WA to see their new drops and keep an eye out for their next events on their Instagram, @spentstudios.
See more content from fitted. on our Instagram, @fitted.uw
Credits
Words by Sarah Sheaffer
Editor Preethi Makineni