A high-profile panel of fashion industry leaders announced the finalists for Catapult; The Emerging Designers Award of Portland Fashion Week 2011. Finalists will show their collections in a runway show Oct. 5, the opening night of Portland Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 Collections and compete to win the best designer award.
Competitors came from all over the country to join exciting local emerging designers, breaking all previous records for participation; a result of the significant business success of past winners. The Catapult 2010 winner, Ms. Wood's exposure and talent led her to major accounts in Portland, Seattle and beyond, including downtown Portland's Mercantile.
After two rounds of selection process, judges gave nods to the top nine designers, considered ready for prime-time exposure. Finalists include Project Runway Season 9 alum Becky Ross, Wyoming's Abbie Miller, House of Summer by Summer Gunter, Grishley Amanda Grisham, Michelle Franklin, Silkwood Collection by Sandy Varzarschi, Joshua Buck, Moontess by Mihaela Munteanu, and Lizz Basinger.
The judging panel included distinguished designers Seth Aaron (winner of Project Runway Season 7) and Anna Cohen (Vogue, Elle France, WWD), buyers of several well-known boutiques, Sue Bonde (Director of Apparel Design; Art Institute of Portland), Eden Dawn (Style Editor at Portland Monthly magazine), and guest judge Barbar Kramer (President of Designers&Agents tradeshow;DNA)
On Oct 5, voting by the runway show's audience will weigh in on selecting the winner of the coveted top prize package which includes a complimentary show produced by Portland Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013 Collections Show, one year of showroom service by Showroom International, and a spread in the competition's Presenting Sponsor, Portland Monthly magazine. The winner will be announced at the night's official after-party at YOLO Lounge (412 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97204).
Portland Fashion Week is the world's only comprehensive eco-conscious fashion week production, featuring independent designers of eco-couture, urban casual, street & active-wear from all over North America and across the globe. Its high-end runway shows and Market day, along with enhanced marketing through its high-traffic online sites, and media relationships, deliver a highly cost-effective exposure from the media, buyers and influential clientele. PFW's media exposure included, Book Moda, Marie Claire, Huffington Post, Lufthansa in-flight, Spin, USA Today, NBC New York, Boho, TreeHugger, Ecouterre etc.
Portland Fashion Week 2011
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