Winner of 2018 UpNXT
O'FIELD by Maddie Iverson
Winner of 2018 UpNXT and People's Choice
Ale O by Alejandra Oyervides
Winner of 2017 UpNXT
Minnie Opal by Sundari Devi
Winner of 2017 People's Choice UpNXT
Oscar Dominick
Winner of 2016 UpNXT
Moore
Winner of 2015 UpNXT
German Madrigal
Winner of 2014 UpNXT
Myriam Marcela
Winner of 2013 UpNXT
Amy Sim
UpNXT is the leading and longest-running Emerging Designers Accelerator in the US attracting designers from all over the US and Canada. It’s an emerging designers competition where designers receive expert mentorship, an exciting runway show, and a great prize package for the winner. There will be two tracks of participation: Live Show Track, and Virtual Track, enabling designers to participate from anywhere in the world and benefit from all the mentorship and publicity of FashioNXT’s large network.
2019 UpNXT Finalists
Akrofi Adjumani
Unifelt
JK Designs
Soap Stealer
(Winner 2019)
Camila X Castillo
2022 Judges
Ken Boddie
Anchor, KOIN TV/Channel 6
Almarina Bianchi
Former Product Integrity Manager
Pendleton
Julie Danforth
Designer- Seattle, WA
Anne Bocci
Boutique Owner
Portland, OR
Program Application fee: $50 (Until July 1st)
(after July 1st: $95)
The fee ensures one of the limited spots in the audition with the judges to evaluate your line’s readiness to get enrolled into UpNXT Accelerator as a finalist. Even if you don’t get selected as a finalist, you get a 30 minutes consultation session to help find other FashioNXT programs that can be a good fit for you based on the audition feedback, and a guest ticket to the UpNXT finale runway show — all designed to help charter the path to future-readiness.
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Accelerator Participation Fee (Mentorships and Runway Show Competition. Only for the Finalists):
$550 (for applications filed till July 1st)
$750 (for applications filed after July 1st)
Fees are Non-refundable. For any reason, if the dates have to be rescheduled, the fees will be applicable to the programs taking place on the rescheduled date(s).
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UpNXT: How to Participate in LIVE and VIRTUAL Tracks
Designers start with an audition. Selected finalists will be offered mentorships and a fashion show competition.
For both the tracks, LIVE and Virtual, the Auditions and the Mentorship classes will be done online, the main difference is the presentation of the collection of the finalists:
LIVE: Finalist designers get to show on a live runway show at FashioNXT Week in Portland.
VIRTUAL: Finalist designers will show virtually. Offers the option for the designer not to have to travel to Portland for getting FashioNXT benefits
Designer Qualifications:
- Ready to Wear or Couture Apparel Collection Designers
- Accessories Designers (Jewelry, Handbag, Shoes)Annual Revenue Below $20,000
In the business for less than three years.
Audition Requirements:
The designer is required to attend an online audition via video conferencing to a panel of judges on a date in August 2022 (FashioNXT will communicate the exact date in Summer 2022 to those who turn in the application form). Space is limited, so it’s advised to apply ASAP. In the online audition, the designer will show the judges five samples from past collections, or work the designer has recently completed. Designers need to showcase the pieces on models and/or dress forms and be ready to answer questions about the pieces, their business, and other topics that the judges find relevant to qualify. The designer should be ready for the pieces to be photographed and be presented to the public view.
Note, at this stage designer does NOT need to show a new or complete collection.
Finalists will be decided through a selection process that includes a panel of judges, and may include an opinion of an audience.|
Note: At this stage designer does NOT need to bring a new or complete collection.
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Finalists Benefits & Requirements
UpNXT LIVE SHOW*
Designers selected as finalists need to present a cohesive collection of 5 to 8 looks on the runway at FashioNXT Week in October. Apparel looks need to be head-to-toe. Accessories looks must clearly highlight the Accessories.
Apparel and Accessories collections will be shown in different segments for a clear distinction between the two categories. FashioNXT runway producer will guide the way the models will be presented on the runway to that designers and models must adhere.
See Details of UpNXT Runway Show Services>>
The runway collection will be judged for collection quality & aesthetics, creativity/originality, and overall cohesiveness.
Marketability will be evaluated based on the website, look-book (of all the pieces be shown on the runway), and social media strategy that the designer must submit to FashioNXT 10 days before the show.
Designers may be given up to three runway styling challenges, and up to three design challenges. Once given designer must adhere to the challenges’ rules.
Attendees of the finalists’ runway show at FashioNXT Week vote for their fave designers.
Judges will decide on the UpNXT winner, to be announced after the show.
Information for Designers Who Need to Travel >>
* If a Live show can’t take place, the designer will automatically be rolled into Virtual Show Track
UpNXT VIRTUAL SHOWCASE
Designers selected as finalists need to present high quality and ready to publicize virtual content for a cohesive collection of 5 to 8 head-to-toe looks:
- One image for each of the looks (High-quality web-resolution image).
- A line sheet with the following information about each look:
- Retail price points for each of the items
- Materials used
The collection will be virtually rolled out during FashioNXT Week through FashioNXT Social Media, E-blasts, Exclusive page for designers in FashioNXT.com.
They will be judged for collection quality & aesthetics, creativity/originality, and overall cohesiveness.
Marketability will be evaluated based on the website, look-book (of all the pieces be shown on the runway), and social media strategy of that designer.
Finalists’ show at FashioNXT Week vote for their fave designers.
Judges will decide on the UpNXT: Virtual winner, to be announced after the show through FashioNXT digital channels.
MENTORSHIP
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Mentorship by FashioNXT Incubator:
Finalists of both Live and Virtual tracks receive mentorship from FashioNXT Fashion Incubator. Industry experts will cover topics cover the step by step from collection design all the way to sales in sessions, each is typically between one to two hours offered online (and if possible with an in-person option):
- Create a Unique Design – from Concept to Sample: by Matt Rhoades, former Global Design Director of Nike
- Building Your Brand Presentation: Tools and Templates of Telling Your Brand Story: by Rebecca Kaufman and Britta Cabanos, co-Founders of Creative Capital Design
- How to Design a Collection from an Inspiration: by an established fashion designer
- Using Fashion Show as a Marketing Tool: by Tito Chowdhury, FashioNXT Executive Producer
- How to Get Yourself Found as a Fashion Brand: by Bonnie Knight, Business Relations Manager, FashioNXT
- How to Build and Maintain Relationship with a Retail Store- Anne Bocci
- Reach Your Clientele Through Media (and Social Media): by Tra’ Renee Chambers, Emmy Award Winner, KATU TV Host, iHeart Radio Portland Personality
- E-Retail Strategy for a Fashion Brand: Casey Golden, Founder, Luxlock
- Sustainability in Fashion
- Costing analysis for production
- How to Build a Streetwear line, from concept to market
Winner's Prize Package
LIVE SHOW TRACK
- Show Publicly: Complimentary Standard Designers Runway show (10 looks) in the regular designer’s line-up at 2023 FashioNXT Week (date of the show decided by FashioNXT only)
- Cash Prize: $500 for materials expense for 2023 FashioNXT Week’s collection
- Certificate of winning
Business Mentorship:
- “Entrepreneurship Series” by Portland Apparel Lab
- Square One: Idea to Manufacturing
- Target Market: Find your Value Proposition
- Brand Story: What does your business have to say
- Tech Packs: Your recipe for a great product
- Talking to Factories: Building a good relationship
- Creative Capital Design Portland builds a Designer Deck
Includes: Consumer profile, Brand story, Line plan Merchandising the line on paper for presentation/ showing color ways, Pricing, sizing call outs, Features and detail call outs, highlighting specific details, Photos, images (provided by designer), Links to social media imagery, Links to website - One hour online consultation on taking the business to the next phase with FashioNXT CEO encompassing various aspects of the business resources — marketing, publicity, retail, making, etc.
Media & PR:
- Inside Fashion Design Offers Media Prize:
- Telling the brand story thru video interview, podcast and/or blog post
- 8 Social media posts following show with images they provide
- Links to brand, website, social media etc
- Coverage of back stage at show Or virtually do interview and show the collection
- Exclusive feature in FashioNXT blog and 3 social media postings
- Exclusive Editorial Photoshoot with Photographer Tom Bohme
- A full year complimentary membership in FashioNXT 365, a virtual presentation platform with your winning collection, and next collection.
VIRTUAL SHOW TRACK
- Show Publicity: Designer’s Portfolio at FashioNXT 365, the virtual presentation platform, with a complimentary membership fee for a year. The designer can showcase up to two collections in FashioNXT 365 till October 2023 at no cost. Promotions of the Portfolio through FashioNXT Social Media.
- Certificate of winning
- 50% Discount to standard show entry fee if designer participates Live in 2023 FashioNXT Week
Business Mentorship:
- “Entrepreneurship Series” by Portland Apparel Lab
- Square One: Idea to Manufacturing
- Target Market: Find your Value Proposition
- Brand Story: What does your business have to say
- Tech Packs: Your recipe for a great product
- Talking to Factories: Building a good relationship
- One hour online consultation on taking the business to the next phase with FashioNXT CEO encompassing various aspects of the business resources — marketing, publicity, retail, making, etc.
Media & PR:
- Exclusive feature in FashioNXT blog and 3 social media postings
Please note, that prizes/benefits offered by third-party entities are included in good faith based on the expressed commitment of those third parties. FashioNXT can’t be held liable in the case of any third party’s inability or unwillingness to honor their commitments in part or in full, or their quality or relevance to the designer’s need.
FashioNXT is a great platform to jump to the next level in the fashion world. I am so honored to have received both Judge’s and people‘s choice awards. Thank you for helping and guiding emerging designers like myself to reach our goals!
Now I can totally see why FashioNXT lists this experience as taking the winner's label to next level. Oh my! True! And I am so grateful for your vision of supporting fashion forward in Portland and beyond.
I had a great success launching my new line, Grace Marie Original, after winning last year's UpNXT. Thanks to FashioNXT!
Portland has strongly established itself as the most fertile hotbed of emerging talents in fashion industry. I am glad to be a part of your success to continue to be the most effective program in the region where emerging designers get the boost for bigger national platform!
UpNXT Partners
