Sew Down: Zebraclub Fashion Event

Sew Down Challenges Student Fashion Designers

It’s not a quilting bee, but it is a fashion face-off, of sorts. It’s “Sew Down” a fashion design competition sponsored by Zebraclub for fashion design students of The Art Institute of Seattle.

The event aims to expand the students' originality and technical expertise in fashion design and construction, while challenging them to create garments for Zebraclub’s hipster target market. But the event is not for the timid. “Sew Down” puts the designers on the spot. On stage and facing a panel of industry experts as well as a live audience, the designers showcase original outfits, and answer questions about their creative choices and techniques. They then receive a professional critique from Zebraclub buyers.

In its second year, the event is organized by Zebraclub, a leader in Seattle’s fashion industry. In the first phase, students submit illustrations of their own original designs to be considered for the competition. Zebraclub buyers review the work and select which students will advance to the next phase ­ construction of the actual garments.

The students then present their work to the live audience and the panel of industry judges.

The grand prize is a complimentary trip to MAGIC in Las Vegas in February. MAGIC is a premiere trade show and designer networking event for the fashion industry. Additional prizes will be awarded, as well.

Congratulations to Logan Neitzel, who won the grand prize MAGIC award in 2005.

The 2006 participants are:

• Jessica Bravo
• Jeff Depano
• Karrame Gibson
• Sarah Jenny
• Desda Sayer
• Hitomi Sugizaki
• Matthew Walker