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TEXTILE STUDENTS WIN INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION
GREENSBORO, N.C. – A daunting classroom assignment has become something of a career launching pad for two young fashion designers at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
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Laury Johnson of Salisbury and Rhiannan Lauritano of Chapel Hill, both seniors in the Department of Textile Products Design & Marketing, have been named among six finalists in an international design competition. They will attend a high profile fashion show in New York City April 10, where their design -- a contemporary interpretation of the Beefeater Gin yeoman's outfit -- will be shown to heavyweights in the fashion industry and media.
And all this because of one, very demanding hands-on learning assignment from their teacher, Sherry Lyon, instructor of advanced applications in flat-pattern design. Like their classmates, Johnson and Lauritano reacted with mingled dismay and excitement to the assignment.
They would form teams, Lyon told them back in February, each to design and produce an outfit according to the rules of the Gen Art International Design Competition -- an annual event created to showcase the work of emerging fashion designers. Under the sponsorship of Beefeater Gin, the New York City-based organization was requesting re-designs of the Beefeater yeoman outfit that adorns the company's bottles. The best submissions would be showcased on April 10 at a high profile fashion show in New York City, and considered for future ads, as part of a new, "Bold Spirit of Beefeater" campaign.
To turn up the pressure, the entry deadline was just three weeks away, during which time they would have to complete research, draw the design, draft an original pattern, find the fabric and construct an entire garment for a size-six runway model. And though Lyon didn't require them to actually submit the final project for judging because of the $25 entry fee, she did encourage them to do so. However, she did require them to follow the rules of the contest to the letter.
It made for a hectic three weeks. Long hours, day and night, scrambling to find fabric, making the drawings, and learning along the way.
"It really was a sweatshop around here -- very intense," said Lyon, looking around the design lab. "And I think there's a voodoo doll circulating, with my name on it. But I wanted them to learn what it means to have a deadline, and to put a garment together, start to finish. I was going to assign them a project that day anyway, so when the contest showed up in my mailbox that morning, I said 'You know what, I'm going to make this project matter'."
The payoff now makes those long hours seem worthwhile to Lauritano and Johnson. Their red velvet skirt and jacket outfit was selected as one of six finalists in the competition. Their design features a 14-panel skirt, a white tulle underskirt, ruffles at the neck and cuffs, long bell sleeves and hand-made gold and black trim.
If the outfit wins, it will be strutted on the runway of the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on April 10, during a fashion show attended by fashion media, top design firms and celebrities. Supermodel and actress Eva Herzigova will preside over the ceremonies. Some big-name designers on the judges' panel include Cynthia Rowley, Victor Alfaro, Pamela Dennis, Stuart Weitzman, Kimora Lee Simmons, and others. The winner will also receive $10,000. In addition to the Beefeater category, other design categories in the contest were eveningwear, sportswear, accessories, menswear and avant-garde. If the design doesn't win the top prize, it will be displayed at the event, giving the two designers important exposure to top people in the industry.
Lauritano and Johnson will be there, resumes in order, and ready to make the most of the opportunity, regardless of whether they win or not. The accomplishment is all the more significant because -- in addition to competing against students from other universities -- they were up against some established, albeit also young, design firms from all over the world. There's was the only design selected from the south, all others having been submitted by young designers in major cities in the U.S., Canada and England.
Both women say they were born with fashion running in their veins. Johnson said her mother still tells the story of how, as a three-year-old, she would cry every morning when it came time to get dressed.
"Finally she asked me, 'Why do you always cry'?"
"' Because you don't dress me right,' I told her. From that time on, she let me dress myself," Johnson said, laughing.
Lauritano has family in the New York fashion industry, and always knew she would follow the same path. So with those connections, why did she choose UNCG? Partly on the recommendation of those same family members.
"They told me they had heard good things about the program here," she said.
Nobody was more surprised than they themselves, when they heard their outfit was a contender for the top prize.
"We had forgotten all about it. We sent it off thinking we had no chance, and then forgot all about it. Then, wow, they told us we were picked. We were so excited." Lauritano said.
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