2024 Student Challenge

With all that is happening in today’s world of fast fashion, we thought a student challenge to upcycle an existing garment would be a nice change and perspective on current trends in the industry. The ASDP 2024 Student Challenge was aptly called the Upcycle Challenge. The challenge parameters and rules are summed up as follows:
Student entrants were challenged to create a fashion look that consists of recycled or thrifted apparel transformed into a new garment. The idea is to upcycle a pre-owned garment and bring new life to an existing find.
The designer is to have a spending budget of no more than $30 to be used for the garment, additional fabrics and trims, or any other elements that go into the look.
Entrants must prove that they are a student by submitting an intent to enter form and school location by June 30, 2023 and pay the $10 entrance fee. Student designers must submit their garment entry no later than August 15, 2024.

Entrants must submit 6 before and after photos of their entry to show their work, as well as a written statement of no more than 100 words along with their completed submission. This statement is used to describe the elements of the garment, how the garment was acquired, and the importance or meaning of the garment.

From the submitted entries, the finalists were chosen and asked to send in the garments for the second round judging. Three judges were selected to evaluate challenge garments at Conference, keeping the entrants anonymous. The judges were to rate the entries on originality, creativity, garment construction, transformation of the original garment and use of additional materials, giving each entry a number rating for each category. The figures were added together to give each entry a total score. The winners were chosen based on the total scores added together by the judges.

Prizes will be given for the first and second place challenge winner, with a runner up prize. The first place prize is a new serger sewing machine generously sponsored by Pattern Works Intl and business owner Judy Huyck, The second prize is cash generously donated by Claire Shaeffer, and the runner up prize is a new sewing kit sponsored by Love, Stephanie, the business owned by Stephanie Mendes.

The garments were sent in to the challenge coordinator along with a description, intent and details about what the garment was originally, how it was acquired (thrift store, entrants closet or otherwise) and how it was deconstructed and remade into a new garment. The entrant was to describe what was the motivation to create the garment and what challenges they had with creating the look.

The winning look with the most points went to Lucas Mazurik for his look titled “Lakeside” which consisted of an oversized fishing shirt reconstructed with new seams, with features added including functional hardware, and a pair of shorts taken apart and made into a vest, utilizing the pockets and details from the shorts as useful for a fishing trip on the lake. The construction of both garments was judged as excellent, along with the vision and creativity that the garments portrayed.

The second place prize went to Leila Slaten for her entry “Patchwork Perfection”. She used several men's shirts purchased from Goodwill to cut into squares, sewn together in a patchwork pattern, then quilted and made onto a zippered jacket. The use of color and upcycled materials were found to be excellent and visually appealing as well as very good garment construction.

The runner up winner of the competition also came from Leila with her entry named “Pleated Stars”. This is an outfit made from upcycled jeans purchased from Goodwill. Leila deconstructed the jeans, sewing them back together into a halter top and pleated mini skirt, using the two denim wash fabrics to create a colorblock effect and surface interest.

A finalist, “Tie Dress” submitted by Riley Baysden was a wonderfully creative use of upcycled materials; men’s ties. The ties were partially taken apart and sewn together to form fabric made into a dress with ties at the shoulders. It was a very good transformation made with pleasing color coordinating upcycled materials, yet as noted by the judges, the sewing and construction needed a bit more attention to detail.

Thank You to all the Student Challenge Participants!

This year' s Student Challenge was a wonderful way for students to create a garment using existing materials and to stretch their imaginations while also practicing their sewing and patterning skills as well as creativity. Congratulations to all of the Student Challenge entrants and winners! They did a great job and we on the Challenge Committee were excited and proud to have them participate!