Supima has done a lot to help support emerging talent over the course of the last four years the competition has taken place. Last year’s finale was staged at The New York Times Building.
This year, the Supima Design Competition is poised for even more success. The competition will move to the home of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Lincoln Center for the first time ever. This year’s judges include Gilt Group founder Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, Charlotte Ronson, Coco Rocha; VP of Men’s Fashion at Bloomingdale’s Kevin Harter, and Nicole Miller.
Two students from each of the top American design schools F.I.T, PRATT, R.I.S.D. and SCAD will participate by turning rolls of Pima cotton into women’s evening wear-for a total of 40 looks. Supima has donated departmental supplies and made monetary contributions to each participating school. The winner of the 2011 student competition will win a $10,000 cash prize.
THE 2011 FINALISTS:
•Amy Lynn Bittner, 23, Fashion Institute of Technology; hometown: Evansville, Indiana
•Jusil Carroll, 34, Fashion Institute of Technology; hometown: Busan, South Korea
•Lorena Cuevas Restrepo, 23, Savannah College of Art and Design; hometown: Bogota, Colombia
•MaRu Jung, 23, Pratt Institute; hometown: Seoul, South Korea
•Marlow Larson, 22, Savannah College of Art and Design; hometown: Gainesville, Georgia
•Rachel Pullman, 23, Rhode Island School of Design; born in Canberra, Australia, now settled in the U.S.
•Dara N. Rosen, 23, Pratt Institute; hometown: Long Valley, New Jersey
•Connie Weng, 22, Rhode Island School of Design; hometown: Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
Of course John Simon Daily will be there to bring you exclusive pictures, interviews, and much more.