Six Finalists from the Nation’s Top Design Schools to Compete for $10,000 prize

Winner to be announced at the SDC NYFW show

SUPIMA, the non-profit luxury brand dedicated to promoting the use of American-grown Pima cotton worldwide, is thrilled to announce the return of the SUPIMA Design Competition for 2024. This year, the competition will be hosted by internationally acclaimed fashion designer, Phillip Lim, Creative Director and Co-Founder of 3.1 Phillip Lim. As 3.1 Phillip Lim celebrates its 20^th anniversary this year, Lim’s expertise and legacy make him the perfect partner for the competition. The show will take place during New York Fashion Week on Thursday, September 5^th at 1 PM, where prominent brands and designers from the U.S. and abroad showcase their seasonal collections.

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SDC 2024 Finalists; Jules Gourley, Emma Joan Foley, Lizzy Truitt, Mina Piao, Marina Lamphier, Henry Hawk (Source: Matt Carasella for SUPIMA)

“I am thrilled to have an icon like Phillip Lim join us as host for this year’s competition as he celebrates 3.1 Phillip Lim’s 20^th anniversary. We're also excited to mark the 10th anniversary of working with Bibhu Mohapatra as a mentor. His involvement has profoundly impacted our finalists and their collections. Even after 17 years, each competition feels like the first, bringing new excitement. We have an incredible group of finalists with unique visions, and I can’t wait to share what they create,” says Buxton Midyette, VP of Marketing and Promotions at SUPIMA.

The SUPIMA Design Competition supports emerging talent by supporting the outstanding graduates nominated by the top design universities across the country. These finalists engage in a months-long mentorship program through SUPIMA, culminating in a showcase of eveningwear capsule collections crafted with SUPIMA cotton fabrics, America’s luxury cotton. The 17^th annual competition provides these students with both visibility and a chance to win a $10,000 prize, helping to kick-start their careers in the fashion industry.

Lim will MC the runway show, accompanied by a distinguished panel of 17 judges, including industry veterans, tastemakers, editors, stylists, and consultants. This year’s panel features Aaron Royce, Abby Silverman, Alexandra Pijut, Avril Graham, Cipriana Quann, Danya Issawi, Emma Davidson, Fern Mallis, Freya Drohan, Gilles Denis, Godfrey Deeny, Jérôme Lamaar, Kelly Augustine, Lisa Lockwood, Mandy Lee, Mickey Boardman, Shibon Kennedy, and Violet Conroy.

“Supporting the future of fashion is vital. As I near the 20th anniversary of 3.1 Phillip Lim, I’m reminded of how quickly time flies in this dream journey. It’s a privilege to encourage emerging designers, and I hope to share some wisdom: take your time, trust your instincts, build your community, and most importantly, find joy in the journey,” says Phillip Lim, Creative Director and Co-Founder of 3.1 Phillip Lim.

All six finalists will have the opportunity to present their final designs during the NYFW runway presentation. The jury will determine this year’s winner, who will be announced live during the SDC runway show. Additionally, a video of the show will be available to play on Supima’s website afterward.

Once again, CFDA Award-winning eveningwear designer, Bibhu Mohapatra, has continued his role with the SDC program, marking his tenth anniversary as mentor to the finalists, providing insight, support, and counsel to each contestant throughout the entire program.

This year’s finalists include:

• Marina Lamphier | Drexel University
• Mina Piao | Fashion Institute of Technology
• Lizzy Truitt | Kent State University
• Emma Joan Foley | Parsons School of Design, The New School
• Henry Hawk | Rhode Island School of Design
• Jules Gourley | The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

ABOUT SUPIMA

SUPIMA is America’s luxury cotton: founded in 1954, the SUPIMA brand, short for “Superior Pima”, designates an elite variety of Pima cotton sustainably grown only in the West and the Southwest U.S. It is prized the world over by designers and discerning consumers who value its resilient strength, lasting color, and indulgent softness.

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