Urban Outfitters & Arts Thread to host design contest

By offering graduates an opportunity to see their creative dreams realized, Arts Thread and Urban Outfitters are bridging the gap between education and industry one competition at a time.

Alex Brownless and Katie Dominy started Arts Thread after realizing that there were no digital platforms that solely promoted new creative talent. Seizing the opportunity to create something totally unique, they launched a print magazine showcasing new creative talent in Europe. Now, just over four years later, Arts Thread has evolved into an International digital platform that showcases new talent from over forty countries worldwide.

“Urban Outfitters has partnered with Arts Thread as part of our ongoing commitment to discovering and fostering young talent,” explains Chad Kessler, Chief Merchandising Officer, Urban Outfitters North America.”

Arts Thread is the largest online community of young designers, and through our Make It competitions we can provide opportunities to anyone within the Arts Thread network, no matter what country they live in or what school that designer attended.”

In an effort to help launch the careers of recent graduates and provide a showcase for their talent, Urban Outfitters has created Make It competitions across each division of the brand, including apparel, accessories and home.

For its first installment of Make It, it asked fashion students across the globe to design the perfect party outfit for our Winter Holiday 2013 collection. Five winning designs were selected to be produced and sold exclusively at Urban Outfitters stores, providing the talented designers behind each garment global exposure in addition to a cash prize.

The Arts Thread X UO Make It Holiday collection includes a Chiffon Tunic Dress by University of Salford graduate Kate Hinchliffe, a plaid dress by Ravensbourne graduate Nicolette Nadimi, a Fringe Maxi Dress by Northumbria University graduate Charlotte Sowerby, a Silky Jacket by Joanne Miller, also from the University of Salford and a Mesh Jumpsuit by Manchester University graduate Natalie Deryer.

“It’s fantastic that Urban Outfitters believes in Arts Thread’s vision of helping new design talent succeed," says ARTS THREAD Founder Alex Brownless. “Together Urban Outfitters and Arts Thread have a common goal, which is democratic and based solely upon design talent. It really doesn't matter who you are, where you are from or, for that matter, which university or school you have studied at, as genuine talent will never go unnoticed!”

Arts Thread X Urban Outfitters Make It will continue with a Women’s Apparel & Accessories Edition for Festival 2014, a Home Edition launching in the Fall of 2014 and a Gift Shop Edition for Holiday 2014.