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
2019 UpNXT Finalists
Akrofi Adjumani
Unifelt
JK Designs
Soap Stealer
Camila X Castillo
2019 Judges
Molly Riehl,
Host, KPTV
Almarina M Bianchi
Product Integrity Manager
Pendleton Woolen Mills
Anne Bocci
Owner of Anne Bocci Boutique
Sonia Kasparian
Urchin
2016 UpNXT Winner
Audition Submission fee: $50
(after June 1st: $75, and after July 1st $150)
Runway Show Participation Fee (Only for the Finalists):
$550 (for applications filed till June 1st)
$750 (for applications filed till July 1st)
$1250 (for applications filed after July 1st)
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UpNXT: How to Participate in LIVE and VIRTUAL Tracks
UpNXT is the most 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 are two tracks to participate. LIVE and VIRTUAL. For both the tracks the Auditions and the Mentorship classes will be done online, the main difference is the presentation of the collection of the the finalists:
LIVE: Finalists designers get to show on a live runway show at FashioNXT Week in Portland.
VIRTUAL: Finalists 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
Annual Revenue Below $20,000
In the business for less than three years.
Audition Logistics:
Upon submitting the UpNXT application designer is required to attend an online audition via video conferencing to an panel of judges on a date in July 2021 (FashioNXT will communicate the exact date in Spring 2021 to those who turn in the application form). Space is limited, so it’s advised to apply ASAP. In the online audition designer will show the judges four to six samples from past collections, or work designer has recently completed. Designer 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. Designer should be ready for the pieces to be photographed, and be presented to the public view. At the audition Finalists will be decided through a selection process that include a panel of judges, as well as, opinion of an audience.
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Note: at this stage designer does NOT need to bring a new or complete collection.
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Information for Designers Who Need to Travel >>
Finalists Benefits & Requirements
Designers selected as finalists need to present a cohesive collection of 6 to 8 head-to-toe looks on the runway at FashioNXT Week in October.
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 website, look-book (of all the pieces be shown on the runway) and social-media strategy that designer must submit to FashioNXT three days before the show.
Designers maybe 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.
Mentorship by FashioNXT Incubator:
Finalists receive mentorship from FashioNXT Fashion Incubator. Industry experts will cover topics cover the step by step from collection design all the way to sales:
- Design: How to develop a cohesive winning collection: by a former UpNXT winner
- Costing: Costing analysis for production
- Marketing: Blog, Media, Social
- E-Retail Strategy for a Fashion Brand
- Launch: How to better utilize fashion show as a marketing tool
- Sales: How to impress a buyer and get an account
- Sustainability in Fashion
Winner's Prize Package
- Show Publicly: Complimentary Standard Designers Runway show (10 looks) in the regular designers line-up at 2021 FashioNXT Week on a date decided by FashioNXT
- Cash Prize: $500 for fabric expense for 2021 FashioNXT Week’s collection
- Certificate of winning
Business Mentorship:
- PAL (Portland Apparel Lab) – 2-Hour Private Lesson in Optitex CAD Patternmaking Software ($130 value) Optitex is an industry standard professional patternmaking program that creates garment and accessory patterns that can be sent across town or around the world. One-on-one lessons get students up and running fast on projects that are meaningful to their business.
- PAL (Portland Apparel Lab) – 2-Hour Design Review ($150 value) Our Design Review allows the entrepreneur up to two hours with our team where they can present their line and proposed business model. We can offer feedback and advice on sourcing, prototyping, grading and production-readiness. They’ll leave with a game plan for how to get their line to market.
Media & PR:
Exclusive feature in FashioNXT blog and 3 social media postings
Business Accounts:
Boutique representation for select finalists, and winner, as decided by participating boutique owners
Please note, 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.
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
2019 UpNXT Style Challenge
