Winning designs send students to New York Fashion Week
Winning designs send students to New York Fashion Week
Seniors Abigail Jones and Whitney Howard earned a trip to New York Fashion Week with their winning designs for MSU's Fashion Design Collection Competition.
May 18, 2024Following the theme of sustainability, participants in this year’s MSU Spartan Fashion Design Collection Competition were tasked with using recycled MSU clothing provided by the Spartan Bookstore to create a unique look.
Rebecca Schuiling, director of the competition for the Apparel and Textile Design program, said the judges deemed the fashions made by seniors Abigail Jones and Whitney Howard as the most original and creative sustainable concept designs. The winning creations were put on display through Feb. 9 at the Spartan Bookstore located in MSU’s International Center.
The competition gave both designers a chance to reflect on the role of sustainability in fashion. Jones emphasized the importance of resourcefulness in creating sustainable fashion.
“Resourcefulness is always crucial in ensuring sustainability,” Jones said. “It can be easy to overconsume materials when it comes to fashion design, so being mindful of the materials you are buying is very important. I keep scraps of everything (fabric, yarn, thread, ribbon, etc.) to try to ensure that I am creating as little waste as possible. I also believe reusing materials from other projects can help to keep the creativity flowing.”
As winners of the competition, Jones and Howard earned a VIP experience at February’s New York Fashion Week where they received a behind-the-scenes look at the global fashion scene while gaining invaluable industry insights. The experience also included entry into select runway shows as well as panel discussions and networking opportunities with industry leaders.
“The energy of being in New York during NYFW was absolutely amazing! It was unlike anything I have ever felt,” Howard said. “Being in an atmosphere with a group of individuals who have the same passions as me was life-changing. I learned so many things about fashion and myself even. This trip certified I am in the right field and am on the right path.”
