Bangkok--14 Jan--Verve
The 6th annual event challenges young designers to compete for an US Cotton Fashion Inspired Trip
Today, COTTON USA launched the 2011 COTTON USA Design Challenge, a fashion design competition that focuses on 100% cotton fabrics for the ‘Hollywood Movie Inspired’ fashion competition. The challenge is open for higher-education students from any year of study to weave their dreams onto the professional runway and win a ‘US Cotton Fashion Inspired Trip’ as prizes for the winner and two runner-ups to broaden their fashion experience in the USA in September this year.
Mr. Kraipob Pangsapa, COTTON USA Thailand Representative, said, “The COTTON USA Design Challenge is a platform for young designers to exhibit their talents and creativity through apparels that are designed, cut and sewn from 100% cotton fabrics. We aim to educate fashion design students about 100% cotton fabric benefits. This design challenge made its debut in 2006 and was held annually ever since, each year with healthy feedback from academics and students in higher-education institutions nationwide. The competition to be held this year is the sixth in its series.”
“We see an opportunity to help pave the way for up-and-coming young designers to enter the Thai circle of fashion design professionals, and so we keep this project going,” he added. “The 2011 COTTON USA Design Challenge remains true to the project’s fundamental concept as a design competition of fashion apparel crafted from 100% cotton fabric. The challenge for entrants this year is to, as individuals, design and completely craft Ready-to-Wear Couture and Ready-to-Wear clothes for both men and women within the concept of ‘Hollywood Movie Inspired’. In addition, demonstration of creativity and ability to draw inspiration from the silver screen in their fashion design creation, each entrant will be required to exhibit the skills to craft fine garments, using various cotton fabrics as raw material, namely knits, woven, and denim fabrics. And the colors to be used must come from the Cotton Incorporated’s Color Trend Forecast Fall/Winter 2011-12 and Denim Trend Forecast Fall/Winter 2011-12 & Spring/Summer 2012 only.”
Mr. Kraipob continued, saying that this year’s challenge has become more rewarding. “In addition to the winner who will be awarded a ‘US Cotton Fashion Inspired Trip’, the first and second runners-up also win places in this US trip to jointly experience the world-class scene of fashion design, which is a special experience exclusive to only a few people.”
As member of the judging panel, Tube Gallery designer Saksit Pisalasupongs said: “The ‘Hollywood Movie Inspired’ concept is based on the idea that everyday stuff can be applied in creative design. Hollywood movies are well loved and have inspired many people around the world. The industry has already spawned many great ideas for creative professionals in various fields, allowing them to merge their impression of movies with their own imagination and individual style to create stunning works. The competition this year challenges the entrants to draw inspiration from the Tinseltown to design and craft the types of garment specified by the competition and subtly show the attributes of cotton fabrics.”
Representing the winning team of 2010 COTTON USA Design Challenge, Mr. Arthit Chandhalangsu [a.k.a. Preaw], recalled his experience from the ‘Once in a Lifetime US Cotton Field Trip’ last year: “The trip broadened my view of the world by bringing me to places I had never been before. It was the first time I was exposed to an expansive cotton field and visited a ginning mill, which gave me and my teammates much better understanding about cotton and the process needed to turn this natural fiber into the garments we wear. We were also involved in a fashion shoot by Praew Magazine’s team for our winning collection from the 2010 COTTON USA Design Challenge. The fashion shoot featured Khun Mew, Lalita Sasiprapa. Again, that was the first time for my teammates and me to get hands-on experience in every process of the job we have been dreaming since our childhood. Khun Man, Kawee Laksanasakulchai, Praew Magazine’s fashion stylist, was very open-minded, welcoming our ideas of how we choose accessories to mix and match with the dresses. He would supervise us to ensure consistency of this fashion set overall. It was a wonderful experience you can never get from a classroom.”
Students interested to enter this year’s competition can learn more information and download the application form from Facebook page, COTTON USA Design Challenge Thailand, from today until January 31.
About 2011 COTTON USA Design Challenge
COTTON USA Design Challenge is an annual fashion design competition held consecutively since 2006, each year with a unique design concept and set of challenges. Entrants for the 2011 event will be individuals, and they are required to present their work within the concept of “Hollywood Movie Inspired”. Each entry should be comprised of the conceptual idea, inspiration board, and a set of sketched designs of 10 outfits for both men and women, divided into 6 Ready-to-Wear outfits (3 men’s and 3 women’s) and 4 Ready-to-Wear Couture (3 men’s and 3 women’s). Denim, knits and woven cotton fabrics will be the key fabrics used in this competition, and the colors to be used must come from the Cotton Incorporated’s Color Trend Forecast Fall/Winter 2011-12 and Denim Trend Forecast Fall/Winter 2011-12 & Spring/Summer 2012 (for more information, visit http://trendforecast.cottoninc.com). The conceptual work should be submitted along with application documents for the first qualifying round. The qualifiers are required to attend activities to be held by the organizer and undergo more rounds of screening until only five finalists are chosen. In the round of five, each finalist has to produce a collection of 5 outfits, including 3 “Ready-to-Wear” and 2 “Ready-to-Wear Couture”. The fabrics used in their production will be 100% cotton fabrics that will be sponsored by COTTON USA, namely denim, knit, woven cotton fabrics. The five finalists will present their finished collection at the final judging round and the winner announcement will happen at the Cotton Day in May 2011.
Photos:
Khun Kraipob Pangsapa, COTTON USA Thailand Representative
Saksit Pisalasupongs, Tube Gallery designer and a member of the judging panel
Mr. Arthit Chandhalangsu, representing the winning team of 2010 COTTON USA Design Challenge
The winning team of 2010 COTTON USA Design Challenge shared their experience from the competition and memorable time from the ‘Once in a Lifetime US Cotton Field Trip’ last year, during which they also gained insightful experience of a fashion shoot in a cotton field. The team also demonstrated their design skills with dresses crafted from 100% cotton fabric under the concept of ‘Hollywood Movie Inspired’ to be a sample of COTTON USA Design Challenge 2011 contestants.
Celebrated model Niranath Victoria Coates made her presence in 100% cotton outfit inspired by all-time classic ‘My Fair Lady’ on the catwalk alongside a great-looking male model.
The winning collection on the concept of ‘US Cotton on the Red Carpet’ from 2010 COTTON USA Design Challenge
Memorable times of ‘Once in a Lifetime US Cotton Field Trip’ at USA