The Cotton Forward: 3D Fashion Design Challenge with Arts Thread
CARY, N.C. (Feb. 15, 2024) – Cotton Incorporated, a global leader in cotton resources and innovation for the world’s textile industry announces the Cotton Forward 3D Fashion Design Challenge in collaboration with Arts Thread, the world’s leading network for new creatives. This exciting competition challenges students – future industry professionals – to create innovative and sustainable fashion designs using cotton, with a focus on incorporating 3D technology, a first for Cotton Incorporated.
This inaugural competition aims to showcase the creativity and talent of emerging designers while promoting the use of sustainable materials in the fashion industry. By encouraging students to explore cotton as a versatile and natural fabric, the competition aims to inspire the next generation of fashion designers to prioritize sustainability in their work.
“The Cotton Forward 3D Fashion Design Challenge not only celebrates the creativity and talent of young designers but embraces a medium that is the future of the fashion industry with sustainable materials like cotton,” said Megan Peterson, director of marketing and industry programs for Cotton Incorporated. “Cotton is an integral part of fashion’s future, and we are thrilled to see how students will incorporate digital fabrics from the CottonWorks™ fabric library into their designs and push the boundaries of innovation.”
Open to students in the U.S. and recent graduates, the competition invites participants to submit their cotton digital fashion creations that integrate 3D design fabric files from Cotton’s FABRICASTTM collection and demonstrate a strong understanding of cotton’s unique properties. Participants may submit one to three complete, styled fashion looks. Entries will be judged on:
- Innovative use of cotton fabrics
- Design excellence and creativity
- Ability to scale to market.
The three winners will receive prize money and may have their designs featured in the CottonWorks™ Virtual Showroom, an immersive digital environment for exploring cotton fabrics and inspirational fashion.
Judging the entries:
Clare Tattersall, founder of Digital Fashion Week and curator of The Drip, a haute couture digital fashion boutique. Tattersall has over two decades of experience innovating at the intersection of fashion and technology.
Malie Bingham, senior creative applications development Manager at Ralph Lauren. Bingham works on major projects visual line planning and 3D product creation to bring together multiple technologies for an end-to-end product lifecycle workflow.
Soojin Kang, assistant professor of fashion technology at the Parsons School of Design. Kang’s extensive experience with brands and designers and deep knowledge of virtual simulation technology informs her research on the intersection of sustainability, fashion innovation and digital transformation.
Katherine Absher, fashion and digital design manager for Cotton Incorporated. Absher creates and manages the CottonWorks™ Digital Fabric Library and CottonWorks™ Virtual Showroom, creates 3D marketing content and digital product creation educational content for the company.
The deadline for submission is May 17, 2024. To learn more about the CottonWorks™ Cotton Forward 3D Fashion Design Competition and how to enter, visit artsthread.com/competitions/cotton-forward-3d-fashion-design-challenge. Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #CottonForward3D and stay updated on the latest news and announcements from Cotton Incorporated CottonWorks™ and Arts Thread.
About Cotton Incorporated
Cotton Incorporated is the research and promotion company for upland cotton. Funded by U.S. cotton growers and importers of Upland cotton-containing products, the not-for-profit organization’s mission is to increase the demand for and profitability of cotton. As a resource for the cotton industry, Cotton Incorporated conducts or oversees more than 450 research and educational projects in an average year. Research areas range from the development of agricultural and textile innovations to analyses of commodity and market data. For more information or to learn more, follow along on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Pinterest, and YouTube.
About CottonWorksTM
Cotton Incorporated’s CottonWorks™ program serves as a key industry resource for professionals and emerging talents in the apparel and textile industry. Providing valuable insights and an extensive collection of resources, including research, informative videos, market and trend analyses, the program enhances expertise in product development, sourcing, and marketing. Explore these resources by visiting CottonWorks.
About Arts Thread
Arts Thread is the world’s leading digital platform for emerging artists & designers and a launchpad for the next generation of creative talent. Arts Thread has built relationships with over 1000 creative institutions connecting to over 400,000 students in 140 countries.
Learn more by visiting Arts Thread or follow on Instagram, X, YouTube, Pinterest and LinkedIn.
About Cotton Forward 3D Fashion Design Challenge
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open to US residents over age 18 who are enrolled in or have graduated from college within the last two years (2023, 2022 and 2021 graduates). Entry period ends on 05/17/2024 at 11:59pm ET. Subject to Competition Terms and Conditions at https://artsthread.com/competitions/cotton-forward-3d-fashion-design-challenge. Sponsor: Arts Thread Limited, 4 Cannon Lane, Pinner, Middlesex, HA5 1HL, United Kingdom.
Media Contacts
Ryan Vulcan, RVulcan@nullCottonInc.com