Exclusive: How Costume Designer Provi Fulp Dressed a New Class of Students on Campus in A Different World

By Elizabeth Paige Richardson | September 29, 2026 | Best TV Shows, Celebrity & Culture, Fashion

The new freshman class roaming around campus on A Different World are dripping in style and personality. The crew behind the new Netflix sequel, which took over the number one spot in the streamer’s top ten, transformed the Hillman student body with a brand new look all while paying homage to the original’s range of styles that helped it define fashion on HBCUs across the country.

The sequel’s costume designer, Provi Fulp, took that legacy to heart when she approached dressing the new class of Hillman students, including Deborah Wayne’s (Maleah Joi Moon) red top for homecoming and Rashida Duvall’s (Alijah Kai) playful denim looks. Using her 20 years of fashion industry experience, the Emmy-nominated costume designer found a new angle to fill the sequel with breathtaking fashion moments.

For her exclusive interview with DivaGalsDaily, Fulp spoke about using her own proximity to HBCU culture, inspiration from Black luxury designer brands, and drawing on the legacy of the graduated Hillman class to create a new look that brought the series to the top.

The Evolution of Legacy

Over the original six seasons of A Different World, the series not only captivated audiences with its love triangles but also with college fashion. Who could forget Whitley’s (Jasmine Guy) sophisticated southern belle wardrobe, Freddie Brooks’ (Cree Summer) free-spirited denim looks, or Dwayne Wayne’s (Kadeem Hardison) flip-up glasses?

“It was incredibly important to honor the influence and excellence that A Different World established while continuing to push the culture forward,” Fulp explained. “The original series was bold because it created its own lane and set a standard for what Black college fashion could look like.”

That led to moments like Deborah Wayne sporting her father’s famous glasses-shades combo. But as Fulp notes, a crucial part of the fashion found on Hillman campus is that it couldn’t be placed in a box thanks to a range of characters—something she made sure to carry on.

“We saw a Black woman in Chanel and mink, a future doctor embracing beautiful, bold colors, a natural-hair bohemian with a free-spirited aesthetic, and a young man redefining cool with his sneakers and signature style. Every character represented a different expression of identity. For today’s Hillman, we asked: How do we evolve those ideas for a new generation?”

Fulp answered that question by tapping into Gen Z’s willingness to embrace a creative sense of style with elevated pieces—to show up and show out.

“You might see a vintage mink on a regular Tuesday simply because she can, gloves attached to a cashmere sweater, Ritz-Carlton pajamas in the dorm,” she describes. “Every detail tells a story, from homecoming gowns hand-beaded and designed from scratch by local creatives to custom jewelry, perfectly tied designer neckwear, and collaborations between iconic brands and Black designers. There are so many fashion moments woven throughout the series that viewers will discover something new with every watch.”

Drawing Inspiration Straight from the Source

The fictional campus wasn’t the only place where Fulp sourced her inspiration. To strike a balance between luxury and showcasing Black fashion, the designer led “with Black designers because we are the original purveyors of style, innovation, and culture. The goal was to create a world where luxury and authenticity exist together.”

“Hillman’s fashion language reflects the reality of Black culture today; we embrace legacy, luxury, individuality, and creativity,” Fulp continued. “A designer handbag can exist alongside a locally created statement piece. A vintage treasure can sit beside the newest sneaker drop. That blend is what makes the culture so dynamic.”

The costumes also created an opportunity for Fulp to feed back into the creative community and give flowers to influential Black brands that can be seen on HBCU campuses and common rooms in Atlanta and beyond.

“We celebrated designers and creators like Telfar, Chase Visions, A Ma Maniére, Black Creatives, and many other incredible Black creatives who continue to shape fashion today. Through my partnership with the Rice Center, I created an opportunity for Black designers to showcase their work, and I intentionally selected pieces that could live on our characters.”

A Sacred Tradition Means Designing with Intentionality

“Ahhh, homecoming. It is truly one of the most sacred traditions in HBCU culture,” Fulp said of creating looks for dressing the sequel’s homecoming weekend scenes. The creative is no stranger to the magic and joy of homecoming season, an experience that helped shape each look audiences see on screen.

“I’ve been attending SpelHouse events since I was a teenager at North Atlanta High School. My very first HBCU homecoming experience was at Fayetteville State University with my mother, who had just pledged AKA. I remember watching her embrace the full experience, the tailgates, the step shows, the band, the pride, and the community.”

In the crowd of students that are getting into the celebrations, the camera pans past students turning up in a range of looks.

“For Hillman’s homecoming, every element had to feel authentic,” Fulp emphasizes. “We built the world from the ground up from football uniforms, majorette and cheer looks, student organizations, and campus pride, all the way down to the custom Hillman merchandise,” she says, pointing out that the “homecoming T-shirt drew inspiration from 90s Atlanta Freaknik culture.”

Ultimately the creative process beyond getting the scene to come to life captures the dedication and thought process that brought Hillman to a new generation and has fans already asking for season 2.

“Every detail mattered. Homecoming wasn’t just a dance. It was a celebration of identity, creativity, legacy, and the spirit of the HBCU experience.”