Supima Design Competition: A 2014 Winner!

Fashion designer Anastasia Iafrate was named the winner of the Supima Cotton Design Competition at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week with the award presented by supermodel Coco Rocha. The intensive contest pitted the best fashion talent from the Academy of Art University, FIDM, FIT, Kent State University, SCAD and the Rhode Island School of Design.

Iafrate named her winning collection “White Nights of St. Petersburg" after her native home in Russia. Using what she considered a casual cotton fabric, she created regal evening wear with beautiful flourishes.

Beijing born Ou Ma graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology as a knit designer. Her dreamy, cloud-like collection was actually an exploration in mental illness and emotional recovery
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Yuxi Bi from the Savannah College of Design is also from China. She created her romantic evening wear collection inspired by the texture of fine Supima fabrics.

Jenny Hoang represented the Academy of Art University. Her collection had a somber color palette. Her design work specializes in denim and cotton. Her theme for this group was "transformation".

Sharon Moon earned her BFA from RISD. Her gorgeous collection was inspired by the look of decaying flowers. She used a modern approach to create that aesthetic using an intricate laser cutting technique on strong cotton fibers.

David Lee is a West Coast-based designer representing the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. His collection had bold color blocked seams that flattered the curves of a woman's body.

The winner of the Supima Design Competition receives a $10000 prize. The more valuable opportunity though, is the chance for finalists to show their collection at New York Fashion Week at Lincoln Center. What I enjoy is the fresh talent that shows me new possibilities that a common fiber like cotton can bring. Great work designers!
photos by Mariana Leung

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Project Runway Casting Season 13

Are you in or are you out? If you are a fashion design talent with a flair for on-air drama, it's time to get your scissors out.  The producers of Project Runway are now casting for season 13 of the hit fashion design competition.

Get your couture look cobbled together from spare parts of some wreckage to be judged by the likes of Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Zac Posen after it was deciphered by mentor Tim Gunn.  You already know the rewards... $100K for your collection, pimped out design studio, fame, etc.  Even if you don't win, you get free room and board in a posh apartment in Midtown Manhattan and lots of exposure for your work.

To start, get your application in before September 9, 2013.  More information and forms can be found here.

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Peroni Young Designer Competition at MADE Fashion Week

Are you ready to launch your collection? Ready to show it at MADE Fashion Week this September?  Italian beer Peroni is hosting a design competition to find the next up and coming fashion designer.  You need to HURRY as they are only accepting submissions up until August 8, 2013.

If you win though, the rewards are fantastic.  They include travel to NYC to show the collection of course.  $20 000 to create your show samples, another $20 000 to produce your fashion show.  They will provide support like access to their New York factories and vendors, PR services for the event and your dedicated slot on the MADE fashion lineup.

Judges include designer Antonio Berardi, model Coco Rocha and E! Fashion Police editor Zanna Roberts Rassi.  You'll also have the close mentoring of past winner Nolan Bellavance.  Some of the submission criteria includes being a resident of New York, Miami or Los Angeles and being 25 years of age or older.

For the full submission requirements, click here.

Good luck!
photo from Zimbio.com

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Design for Fab.com and Michael Bastian

Design talents! Two new opportunities for you. First, super design-savvy marketplace Fab.com is on a hunt for great new designers.  They have a jury seeing people at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair.  Bring your samples, your portfolio, your plans or ideas for this competition.  You need to impress judges like Fab's founder and chief design officer Bradford Shellhammer or Dan Rubinstein, editor in chief of Surface magazine among others.  They want to see things that are "high quality and be a functional object made through handcrafted, high-tech and/or experimental processes." 

To register,  send your name and country to designforus@fab.com.  Then show up at the ICFF show at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Center  (must be registered to attend) on May 21st, 1 PM to 3 PM.   If you register for the show today, you can skip the $60 fee.  

BOFFO is a project that brings fashion designers, architects, artists and other disciplines together for pop-up collaborations.  The latest a competition to design and produce a retail installation in collaboration with fashion designer Michael Bastian.  Your base is a shipping container on Pier 57 near the Hudson River.  

Enter the competition here.

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Open Call - Handbag Designer Awards

Are you the new Rebecca Minkoff? Louis Vuitton?  Get your big break at the Independent Handbag Designer Awards this year.  Past winners have had their bags featured in InStyle magazine, their collections produced and manufactured for Saks Fifth Avenue.  Students have had scholarships and collaborations with major brands.  Prizes include a huge setup of amazing equipment for your design studio or free booths at major tradeshows.  

For the past seven years, Emily Blumenthal has been a huge force in bringing opportunities for new designers.  Though the Handbag Designer 101 network, scores of indie labels have been able to network, gain exposure, sell and market their way into success.  The big awards show is the big gala event to top it all off.

You have a shot at nine different categories, so get your work together and enter before April 27, 2013.  Apply here.

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Get Cast in Rihanna's Fashion Design Competition

Designers! Are you ready to dress the hottest entertainers in the biz?  Rihanna is casting her new fashion design competition show for television.

You have to be at least 21 and actually have true design chops to compete.  The application process alone requires sketches, photos of your collection that you have actually made and produced, close-up images that showcase expert details you are capable of like embroidery and pleating, and even your patterns !  You need to also submit a video showcasing yourself in your most dynamic light.   

Make no mistake, Rihanna and team are taking this very seriously, and you had better be too if you hope to compete.  

Get all the details and info on how to apply here.

Your deadline to enter is Wednesday, January 21, 2013

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