The Sew-Off competition showcased 35 contestants transforming unwanted fabrics into fashionable designs, emphasizing sustainability and creativity.
The Portland Fashion Institute hosted its annual Sew-Off competition on Sunday, attracting a sold-out audience to its Northeast Portland campus. The event featured 35 contestants who showcased their creativity, sewing skills, and artistic expression through a series of original outfits, all while emphasizing the theme of repurposing materials, commonly referred to as “upcycling.”
The unique challenge presented to participants required them to transform a bag filled with unwanted fabrics, including cotton and rayon, into fashionable designs within a five-week timeframe. Judging criteria included creativity, craftsmanship, and the innovative use of the upcycled materials. Contestants were instructed to utilize at least 90% of the provided scraps, reinforcing a message of sustainability and waste reduction in the fashion industry.
Sharon Blair, the director of the Portland Fashion Institute, remarked on the transformative process of upcycling, stating, “They take someone else’s castoffs and make it beautiful. It’s like Michelangelo looking at a block of marble and seeing the statue that needs to be released.” The audience participated in the event not only as spectators but also by voting for their favorite designs, while judges ensured that the contestants adhered to the rules of garment creation.
The competition awarded top prizes to contestants Amy Perenchio and Morgan Scarbrough. Ticket sales, priced at $55 each, allowed attendees to bid on the garments, with all proceeds going towards scholarships for students at the institute. The tuition for a two-year associate degree program at the Portland Fashion Institute is around $25,000, and Blair noted that each year, a full-ride scholarship is awarded to help launch a student’s fashion career.
The Portland Fashion Institute, the only nationally accredited fashion design school in Oregon, has a strong track record of job placement, with rates reported between 95% and 100%. Blair highlighted the city’s significance as a hub for the apparel industry, noting over 40 major footwear and apparel companies, including well-established brands like Pendleton and Jantzen, as well as newer labels such as Hanna Andersson.
Contestant Amber Shrewsberry, a 39-year-old who relocated from Tennessee four years ago, combined a light blue chambray cotton with floral fabric to create a lined denim-like vest with pouffy sleeves and matching pants. Shrewsberry, who previously taught high school and college math and physics, has a background in costume design and is active on social media, showcasing their creations under the username askcosplaysenpai.
As an advanced student at the fashion institute, Shrewsberry expressed the value of participating in the Sew-Off: “It’s easy to make things if you have ideal fabric and materials, but there’s a thrill and skillset to work with what you have.” They are set to graduate in July and feel that the skills learned at the school are essential for their future endeavors in fashion design.
Since its establishment in 2010, the Portland Fashion Institute has educated over 7,000 individuals, equipping them with skills in apparel design, including advanced technologies like 3D design and AI, as well as critical knowledge in business aspects like marketing and merchandising.
Source: Noah Wire Services
