2025 Threads Challenge Theme:

Summer Wedding Challenge

Threads asks the members of the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals to create a dress or ensemble suitable for a guest at a summer wedding.

Weddings range from beach-casual to ultraformal these days. You may design for whatever style of wedding you prefer, but your ensemble must be for a guest-not a bride, groom, member of the wedding party, or mother of the bride. The guest you design for may be of any age, size, and gender. Be sure to explain who your "client" is in your artist's statement, and what type of wedding they are attending.

We ask that your design be appropriate for a warm-weather event, where the temperature is 70 degrees and up. Further, in keeping with tradition we request that you avoid all-white and all-black looks, and anything that might outshine the bride.

Just for luck, please include at least one of the following in your design: something old, something borrowed, or something blue. In your statement, tell us about this extra element and what it means to you.

Questions? Contact the Challenge coordinator at challenge@sewingprofessionals.com 

Challenge Terms:

The Challenge is open to formal and retired members with at least one year of continuous membership in the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals. Entrants must maintain their membership in good standing throughout the entire Challenge process, from submission of Intent to Enter through publication of winning garments by the magazine.

The winner of Best Overall is asked to serve as a judge for the next year's challenge, and therefore cannot enter. No garment can win more than one award. Also, there will be only one award per person, with the exception of Audience Choice award, which may be given to an entrant's 2nd garment, depending on the circumstances.

If you are currently a student, emerging, or patron of ASDP and would like to change membership categories so you can enter, contact the VP of Membership at membership@sewingprofessionals.com.

Important Dates To Remember:

April 10, 2025: Intent to Enter Form and fees submitted online by 10:00 PM EDT.

May 8, 2025: Entry Number(s) sent to Entrant via email. First round submissions will be handled electronically, so please add challenge@sewingprofessionals.com to your safe list and save all Challenge related emails.

August 15, 2025: First round entry submissions are due 10:00 PM EDT as registered on the Challenge inbox. Complete the Challenge Submission Form online. You will be attaching your photos, Artist Statement and Runway Commentary in the form. You will also need to complete the Fashion Show and Member Showcase Entry form.

September 17, 2025: Notification of status of all entries by email.

Click on the button to submit your intent to enter the 2025 Threads Challenge. Members must be logged in to access the registration form. 

Intent to Enter

Challenge Documents
2025 Challenge Terms and Schedule

2025 Submission Requirements