2025 Student Challenge

The 2025 ASDP Student Challenge invited student designers to create a complete ensemble for a client attending a summer concert — past or present, any genre, any era. Designers were asked to draw inspiration from a specific musical influence and express their client's individual style through the design, including at least one standout element such as a custom accessory or unique detail. With a budget of just $50 — and an encouragement to work with thrifted or repurposed fabrics — the challenge put creativity and construction skill front and center. Finalist garments walked the runway at the ASDP Conference fashion show on October 17, 2025, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

1st Place: Crimson Marauder

Designer: Janel Bartee
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
Music artist: Ateez World Tour: In Your Fantasy, 2025

Janel is a junior at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, majoring in Architecture, which helps her bring structural elements into her designs.  The rules were simple: create an outfit for a summer concert in any era under a $50 budget. The challenge was judged based on 4 main categories:  materials, construction, client & concert selection, and cohesive design. The judges were wowed by Janel's dramatic design, which truly fit Ateez’s style, her detailed, precise craftsmanship, and her success in tackling challenging materials like faux leather to showcase her show-stopping, fully boned corset embellished with zippers and rhinestones.  The bold red cape adorned with intricate gold lace appliqué along the edges evoked a regal, pirate-inspired aesthetic. The bubble skirt added a feminine twist, creating a playful contrast to the strong upper half.

Janel seamlessly blended strength with elegance, from the custom-drafted corset to the repurposed belt that attaches the cape, making this ensemble a true statement of artistry and design.

For extra fun, here is a link to this post so you can get a feel for her musical inspiration from Ateez, a South Korean K-pop band. https://youtu.be/JOF2ZTqvzwY?si=Ddm8JoGTys8gHcW7

2nd Place: Blink Tucked Punk

Designer: Jessica Kankovsky
Portland Fashion Institute, Portland, Oregon
Music artist: Say Anything on their 20 Years of...Is A Real Boy Tour, 2024

Congratulations to Jessica Kankovsky, who won 2nd place in the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals (ASDP)Student “Summer Concert” Design Challenge with her Blind Tucked Punk ensemble. Jessica attends the Portland Fashion Institute in Portland, Oregon.

Jessica's inspiration was a punk band, Say Anything, on their 20 Years of...Is A Real Boy Tour, 2024.

She intricately pleated denim contrasted with safety pins that move while dancing to the music.

Jessica stated, “It’s an album that tells (in part) a story of building a shell around yourself, and enhancing that shell with even more fierce elements. Despite the heavy themes, it’s very danceable. I wanted the client to make their own music, which the safety pins cling-clanging together accomplish. So much of this album is about coming to terms with vulnerable aspects of the self, and I wanted the safety pins around the neck to feel visually like a heavy chain, protecting the wearer at their most unguarded spot. About The Ensemble: This is a sleeveless top with a modified turtleneck and a miniskirt. Both start with a denim base that has been blind-tucked with one-inch tucks. The top then has those tucks sewn again at opposing 90-degree angles to create the texture on the front of the top. The back of the top is patterned 90 degrees from the front piece so that the zipper sits between vertical tucks. The skirt is made from the “scraps” of the top, interspersed with untucked denim.”

Jessica flew to Raleigh to attend ASDP’s annual conference and network with fellow creative professionals.  Jessica attended an all-day workshop to build her winning pleating skills with none other than George Kalajian, the owner-operator of Tom’s Sons International Pleating, founded more than 50 years ago by his grandfather in New York City.

We are excited to see where Jessica's fashion career takes her next!

Here is a link to a song from her concert inspiration. Love it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imkgn7FGebE...