Love Project Runway? Then you'll love our brand new Goodwill Design Challenge!
Designers of all backgrounds applied to participate, and, after a difficult selection process, we picked our final six participants. They were given 20 short minutes to shop in a Goodwill store to grab all the materials they will need for their unique, original design. You can see some photos from the shopping rush in the slideshow above!
Designers will use the materials they found during our shopping trip to create an original garment. The final looks will walk down the runway at the Vintage Fashion Show on September 21, where YOU can help us select a winner!
Now, we'd like to introduce you to our 2017 Goodwill Design Challenge designers!
Angel Blanco
"As a fashion designer, I work to create contemporary and elegant styles for all seasons and occasions. Like my artwork, each of my clothing styles is designed to express emotion and creativity."
Bailey Earith
Creator at Bailey Fiber Art Studio. "I enjoy working with repurposed fabrics and found objects to create one-of-a-kind wearable art."
Becky Chaffee
Creator at Violettes by Becky. "I love to invent and repurpose items. I have used Goodwill often in the past to repurpose fabric... This would be a new and fun challenge for me."
Kalani Christian Wilson
According to Kalani's mother, he's "a nine year old fashion designer in the making... He makes dazzling, jaw dropping attire for his Barbies and My Life dolls using anything from an apple sauce cup to balloons, holding the pieces together with safety pins, bread ties, rubber bands or glue."
Kris Walker
"A few years ago I took a fashion design class and had to create a design portfolio as my final project. In my mind, I was creating items I would wear myself or design for my friends and... I got an A+! From then on, I used random pieces of clothing to mod and alter them into other manifestations of outfits... I believe this challenge would be my chance to truly create something worthwhile to showcase."
Melanie Drouhard
"I have been interested in creative pursuits my entire life. I learned to sew in the 6th grade... I love fashion and collect and repurpose clothes from thrift stores for my own wardrobe... This challenge sounds like a dream."
See their final designs on the runway at the Goodwill Vintage Fashion Show on September 21 downtown Knoxville! Get your tickets today!