For the past two years, the luxury cotton company Supima has emerging designers with a fashion competition. Yesterday morning I thought I would be sharing with you photos and comments from last night’s Supima Design Competition. I was wrong. Sadly, I didn’t get to attend the event. I wanted to and had heard about the competition for some time now, plus someone I actually know was in the competition. When my friend and I arrived at The Times Center we checked in and were told to go down the stairs. Little did we know that even though you received a RSVP confirmation, that didn’t necessarily mean you were getting to see the show. Needless to say, after the hour of confusion (confusion on both attendees and people working the show); when the dust settled we were one of the people that didn’t go in to the auditorium to see the show.
Before this turns into a bitter post (bitter is never a good look), I will say that I’m happy to announce that designer Gina De Silva was the grand prize winner in the third annual Supima Design Competition (I heard the news right after the show from my client/friend designer May Kosaka). I had the pleasure of meeting Gina through Showroom New York, a showroom based in NYC whose aim is to incubate and nurture young designers that manufacture in New York City, and working with her and several other designers from the showroom (Mothe, Hatting by La China Loca, Manisse, Shauntele, and Keruvim) in their PR efforts for the “I Wear NY” fashion show last September.
Gina De Silva graduated from NYU with a degree in Studio Art in 2001. She learned her craft in her family's bridal salon and custom eveningwear business. DeSilva was one of six finalists to show her designs at the live runway finale held at The Times Center in The New York Times Building. At the conclusion of the runway presentation, the judges' verdict was announced.
Once again disappointed I wasn’t able to attend, but a big congratulation to Gina De Silva!!!!
Showroom New York, a showroom funded by the state of New York whose aim is to nurture and incubate young designers who manufacture in New York , is holding their Showroom Designer Jury today, January 14th at Stoll Fashion & Technology Center. The Showroom is seeking contemporary ready-to-wear and accessory designers to join the showroom for the fall/winter 2010 season.
The designers will be judged based on quality, innovation and marketability. Collections of a selection of pre-screened New York City designers, both designers currently housed at the showroom and new designers hoping to join, will be reviewed by a panel of industry professional including Tanama Besosa Castillo Market Editor of Allure Magazine and Joseph Ferrara of Garment Center Supplier Association of New York.
Acceptance into the showroom includes sales representation through the fall/winter 2010 season amongst other networking opportunities. In addition to representation, Showroom New York offers business and marketing support as well as sourcing referrals for local production.
Last September, several designers at Showroom New York (Mothe, Shauntele, Manisse, Francoise Olivas, and Keruvim) were invited to showcase their spring/summer 2010 collection at the Showroom New York booth at Coterie trade show in New York City.
For more information on the Designer Jury and Showroom New York , please visit www.showroomnewyork.org.
