Winner of 2023 UpNXT
Love letter to rose city by FELICIANO
Winner of 2019 UpNXT
Soap Stealer by Mingaile Simenaite
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.
We are accepting applications for 2025 UpNXT
2024 UpNXT Finalists
Klarice Larson
(WINNER)
Emma Young
Luza Rico
Marci Davis
Eliana Kertzner
2024 Judges
Ken Boddie
Anchor, KOIN TV/Channel 6
Seth Aaron
Designer- Los Angeles, CA
Project Runway & All-Stars Winner
Mondo Guerra
Project Runway Superstar
New York City
Former Global Creative Director, Nike.
Professor. The University of the Arts, and Shanghai Design Institute
UpNXT Audition Application fee: $75
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 20-minute 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
(For Mentorships and Runway Show Competition. Only for the Finalists selected through audition):
$1050 (for applications filed till May 15th)
$1250 (for applications filed after May 15th)
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
Accepting Applications for 2025 UpNXT
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.
2025 UpNXT Audition Requirements:
The designer is required to attend an online audition via video conferencing to a panel of judges on a date in early August, 2025 (FashioNXT will communicate the exact time/details few days before the audition 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 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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UpNXT: Step by Step
REGISTRATION => AUDITIONS => MENTORSHIP => RUNWAY SHOW COMPETITION @ FASHIONXT WEEK => WINNER’S PRIZE PACKAGE
Finalists' Benefits & Requirements
UpNXT LIVE RUNWAY SHOW*
Designers selected as finalists need to present a cohesive collection of 6 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>>
*Please Read as NO Additional Services can be added to UpNXT Runway Show
The runway collection will be judged for
- Collection quality & aesthetics of the looks.
- Creativity and originality*
- Overall cohesiveness of the collection
- Marketability — to 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, the designer must adhere to the challenges’ rules.
Attendees of the finalists’ runway show at FashioNXT Week vote for their fave designers.
Finalist Designers have the opportunity (at an additional price) to sell their designs at the FashioNXT Collective booth on all three nights of FashioNXT Week
Judges will decide on the UpNXT winner, to be announced after the show.
Information for Designers Who Need to Travel >>
* Any re-constructed piece must be constructed from the fabric stage to a completely new design. Designer must do all the cut and sew of all the pieces presented. Breach of this is disqualifiable for UpNXT runway competition.
VIRTUAL SHOW TRACK
Designers selected as finalists need to present high quality and ready to publicize virtual content for a cohesive collection of 6 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.
- Collection quality & aesthetics of the looks.
- Creativity and originality*
- Overall cohesiveness of the collection
- Marketability — to 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.
Finalists’ show at FashioNXT Week vote for their fave designers.
Judges will decide on the UpNXT: Virtual winner, which will 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 Masterclass from FashioNXT Fashion Incubator. Industry experts will cover topics cover step by step from collection design all the way to sales in sessions, each is typically between one to two hours and 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
- How to Design a Collection from an Inspiration: Mondo Guerra, Project Runway Superstar
- AI to Assist Natural Creativity for an Emerging Fashion Brand
- Using Fashion Show as a Marketing Tool: by Tito Chowdhury, FashioNXT Executive Producer
- How to Get Yourself Found as a Fashion Brand: FashioNXT Executive Producer
- How to Build and Maintain Relationship with a Retail Store- FashioNXT Executive Producer
- E-Retail Strategy for a Fashion Brand: Casey Golden, Founder, Luxlock
- Sustainability in Fashion- Daniela Caine- Koryphae Clothing
- Costing analysis for production: Katy Schidmeyer
Winner's Prize Package
LIVE SHOW TRACK
- Show Publicity: Complimentary Standard Designers Runway show (10 looks) in the regular designer’s line-up at the following FashioNXT Week (date of the UpNXT winner’s show in the lineup decided by FashioNXT only)
- Cash Prize: $500 for materials expenses for the collection to be shown at the following FashioNXT Week.
- Certificate of winning
Media & PR:
- Inside Fashion Design Offers Media Prize:
- Telling the brand story thru video interview, podcast, and/or blog post
- One year membership to Inside Fashion Design Connect
- 8 Social media posts following show images they provide
- Links to brand, website, social media, etc
- Coverage of backstage at show Or virtually do an interview and show the collection
- Exclusive feature in FashioNXT blog and 3 social media postings
- Exclusive Editorial Photoshoot with Photographer Tom Boheme
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 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 following FashioNXT Week
Business Mentorship:
- 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
