Registration is open for MDC’s Miami Fashion Institute Upcycle Challenge 2022

Miami, Nov. 8, 2022 – Registration is open for Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Miami Fashion Institute’s (MFI) Upcycle Challenge 2022, a competition where students from 5th – 12th grade create outerwear garments using upcycled denim. Virtual submissions are due Tuesday, Nov. 29, at noon and in-person submissions on Saturday, Dec. 3.

“We’re excited to expand the competition, now in its sixth year, to students from all over and to offer a full scholarship at MFI as the 1st place prize. This competition was created in the spirit of making sustainable fashion and encourages participants to use their creativity to transform unwanted or waste material into a quality product that has artistic and commercial value,“ said Asanyah Davidson, Miami Fashion Institute chairperson.

For this year’s challenge, contestants will be asked to create an outerwear garment suited to the energy of Miami, which can be worn for formal or casual occasions, or as warm clothing during winter. The budget for the project is $15 or less and student designers must complete 90% of the garment without outside help. See a complete list of challenge rules here.

The winner of the competition will receive an MFI Upcycle Scholarship, which covers full in-state tuition toward an Associate in Science in fashion merchandising or fashion design, a Fashion Kit, valued at $200 and Fashion Design Course Book. The scholarship is valued at $7,093.20. Second place will receive a SINGER 4423 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine sponsored by ArtUp 21.Inc and an Illustration Starter Kit, valued at $150. Third place will get a Fashion Design Course Book and other surprise goodies.

Winners of the Upcycle Challenge 2022 will be announced Saturday, Dec. 3, with judging starting at 10 a.m. at MDC Wolfson Campus, Building 8. The competition will be judged by designers Laura LaFrance of Laura LaFrance, LLC, CINTAS; Annette Fedler of Felder Felder; Collen Coughlin of The Full Edit; Fade Zu Grau of Fade Zu Grau Artistry/ Project Runway Season 13/ All Stars Season 5 and Octavio Aguilar of DOPE TAVIO.

Register for the Upcycle Challenge at https://www.mdc.edu/fashion/upcycle/default.aspx.

For more information about the Upcycle Challenge 2022, please call MFI at 305-237-7007, or email fashion@mdc.edu.