It’s Down to Six: Sketch Challenge Raises the Stakes

By Lindsay E. Sammon and Clair Windsor

The first shoe has dropped in the FN Shoe Star competition.

Nervous energy filled the air on Feb. 6 as the seven FN Shoe Star finalists lined up in the Nine West design studio to face the first elimination round of the six-month-long competition. The students had five minutes to present their five sketches to the judging panel: FN’s Michael Atmore, Nine West’s Fred Allard, FIT’s Ellen Goldstein and guest judge Giuseppe Zanotti. Inspiration, technical execution and on-trend styling were the main elements up for critique.

“The talent we are looking for has to have their finger on the pulse of fashion today,” said Nine West creative director Allard. “They did well in what could have been an intimidating situation.”

According to Atmore, judging the inspiration boards — which ranged from the Amazon rainforest to Japanese kimonos — and sketches was no easy task. “We had to judge on their concept and execution — and in many cases, one element was stronger than the other. Once they’re in the real world, they’re going to have to deliver on both,” he said.

The judges’ closed-door deliberation lasted nearly 30 minutes and, in the end, Lana Klemeyer was eliminated.

Six finalists remain, and only one thing is for sure: One of them will be the FN Shoe Star.
After the jump see the designs (including a shoe inspired by ice cream) and see who was eliminated.

Who Stays:

Kristen Baker: “The hardest part of the challenge was getting it done during the hectic first week of school. None of us knew that we would be finalists and we weren’t sure what to expect.”

Baker envisioned blue crocskin and stingray for her line

Kerry Norton: “I thought [the judges' critiques] were very constructive. Sketching isn’t one of my strengths, so that’s something I need to work on. Seeing someone go home is difficult because we all worked so hard for this.”

Norton turned to the Amazon for design ideas

Ryan Baker: “The hardest part of challenge one for me was the rendering process. I don’t really have any formal training in it, so it was something I was very nervous about. But I was very happy to receive such good reviews on my sneaker. Given my background, you will be seeing more sneaker-inspired designs from me.”

Inspired by architecture, Baker incorporated sculptural heels and dark colors into his sketches

Melanie Maggio: “It was nerve-wracking. I don’t think I got in as much as I could have about the design process in five minutes, but as a designer, you do have to keep things to the point.”

Maggio’s “Steel My Sole” collection was inspired by stainless steel

Karen Hsieh: “I was not expecting Mr. Zanotti to speak so positively about my collection. I was beyond happy and thrilled. It was definitely an encouragement to me as an amateur shoe designer.”

Hsieh built her collection on the traditional Japanese kimono

Melissa Cordero: “The most rewarding part was definitely the feedback. To be judged by people in the industry is very intimidating — I’m not going to lie, my legs were shaking — but it’s incredibly rewarding knowing that the people you respect and admire are encouraging your talents.”

Cordero’s sweets-inspired collection featured jewel-encrusted evening shoes

Who Goes:

Lana Klemeyer: “I was really surprised [to be eliminated] because I was very happy with my work. I don’t think I would do anything differently.”

What’s Next:
Now that green is the new black, it’s time for the contestants to get eco-minded. For their second challenge, the six remaining contestants will be required to design an upper for an environmentally friendly sandal using sustainable materials, and will present a color-rendered side view and bird’s-eye view of their creation. The students will be critiqued on their conceptual design and creativity, as well as on their use of materials and level of professionalism. A surprise guest judge — an expert in the sustainability movement — will join the panel of judges.

Students and faculty at work in the Johnson Design Center will probably have their share of curious onlookers, due to full-length windows that face Fifth Avenue and East 13th Street. So all you Parsoners better smile and look happy ( just imagine Tim Gunn just accepted his old job back) . Passersby on Fifth can see a wall-size digital photo, a wooden model, video footage and color photos of the park pavilion built near the Catskill Mountains by 11 New School students over a 10-week stretch last year as part of a design workshop

In order to help you make it as a fashion designer and give you a leg up on some of your competition, I’ve compiled a list of the ten best websites for emerging fashion designers. These sites will provide you insight on becoming a fashion designer, learning your competition and getting some much needed publicity when you need it. Enjoy

Look at all the helpful goodness on our top bar. Tell your friends!!!

1. FashionIndie.com

FashionIndie.com is not on the top of the list cause I run it, it’s on here cause we’ve built this site to be a resource for young designers looking for a little publicity and tips. We regularly feature emerging fashion designers, we always promote the events and shows of young designers, and best of all WE CAN BE BOUGHT. We have a program called Fast Track which puts you’re story, event, or sale ahead of all the other tips we get thrown at us. What this means is that within 24 hours your brand can be in front of thousands of our readers and circulating through dozens of our site feeds which distribute our content.

In addition, we regularly develop events specifically for our network of over 5000 emerging fashion designers. Events have included fashion shows, charity auctions, design competitions, grants for fashion designers, networking events, and fashion weeks all devoted to young fashion designers. To find out more about these events be sure to register with us.

Style Maps keep customers connected to their favorite designers.

2. Trendible.com

More than just a pretty looking social network for the stylishly inclined, Trendible.com gives emerging designers the type of tools they can only pray for (or pay for since Trendible is free and everything else isn’t). When a designer joins Trendible.com they can post pictures and video of their collections, connect to their customers and send customers updates on sales & events, new collections, and information on the stores that carry them. Designers can judge their popularity based on those their connected to figure out what other designers and stores their customers love, giving them the type of information they need to determine their demographics, psychograpics, buyer behavior and geographic location. It’s a big information pot for designers looking to build a brand.

3. Etsy.com

If you’re a jewelery designer or addicted to DIY then Etsy is should be your home. Easy to use and quick to master, Etsy allows you to sell you’re goodies to a large audience of craft addicts. If you’re stuff is a little less “earthy” there’s no reason to turn down the site. At the end of the day, the traffic you drag to your store will result in sales. Etsy’s platform and interface makes it the perfect choice for a designer looking for a quick, clean web store.

MySpace.com’s dedicated spot for fashion

4. MySpace.com

Yes the independently run Facebook is better, cleaner and, pretty soon, more popular, but MySpace‘s customizations will allow you to build a web presence on the cheap without needing to know too much about coding. Make your profile an extension of your brand with your colors, text and images. Adding photo albums of collections and videos of your shows are always a great idea, but be sure to keep it professional. Too many graphics and blasting music and crazy images will only distract from your collection, making it difficult for a buyer or magazine editor to care about your work. Also, be sure to watch your top friends and comments. No need for the wrong message to come across to your customers. When you’re finished building your profile be sure to connect to Fashion Indie (myspace.com/fashionindie)

5. BigCartel.com

The ideal site for designers who are focussed on t-shirts, Big Cartel is a quick solution that lets you sell quickly and promote easily. Customized URL’s help you connect to your store from any where on the web and check out couldn’t be easier. If tee’s are your thing, be sure to check out this site.

6. TheFashionSpot.com

A private network of fashion enthusiasts, The Fashion Spot has quickly grown to becoming a monster of a site filled with the type of user interactions designers creme for. Users can talk about their favorite designers and discuss all aspects of fashion. If you get an invite treasure it and use it to fill the space with the type of carefully planted information only membership access can grant you.

7. Google.com

Google isn’t the first place you think of when you’re a young designer, but the type of information you can extract for the site is extremely valuable. Here are some quick tips for using the site.

Search : site:www.yourwebsitehere.com to find out how many pages of your website Google is paying attention to.

Search : link:www.yourwebsitehere.com to find out how many other websites are connecting to you website.

Search : “your label name here” to see how many pages contain your name. You never know, you might be on some blog or may have missed a press clipping.

You can also sign on to get weekly and daily updates for those days when Google spots your name or website on the web. Just sign-up for Google Alerts to find out about these helpful reminders

Everyone’s on the Tube, even Ford Models.

8. Youtube.com

There’s no denying the power of the Tube. Upload your runway videos, introduce yourself to the world, show people behind the scenes, whatever you want to show, show. Share your world and don’t be surprised if it starts answering. Video is the best way to show who you are and for your designs to move. It’s one step closer to bringing your customers closer to your collection. Get on their and make yourself a star.

9. Facebook.com

Told you I’d mention Facebook. Perfect for connecting you to the people who can make your collection grow, Facebook is great cause many of the companies you’d want to connect to like Conde Nast and Hearst are already on there. As an added bonus, the extra plug-ins that the site provides can let you sell your collection and share it with the hole Facebook audience making you a Facebook superstar in no time.

10. Fashion-Incubator.com

Completely dedicated to the craft of fashion manufacturing, this site is perfect for the designer looking to grow. The blog plays more like a book with chapters dedicated to various subjects on the manufacturing process. The writing is entertaining and worth taking a look at if you’re at the point of your career where you want to increase production. We can’t all design out of basements forever.

Hope this list if helpful indies. Be sure to comment with more suggestions if you have them.

becoming a fashion designer

become a designer

fashion

Collection: Kenton Harrow

Designer: Craig Arthur Schroeder

Years Designing: 5 years

Designer Bio: Craig Arthur Schroeder, Esquire, (b. 1978) lead designer of KentonHarrow, was marked early on with a penchant for fashion and travel. Born to an eccentric German architect and a crafty Danish teacher in Princeton, New Jersey, Schroeder displayed a predilection for colors and textures from early childhood.

Not content with resting on his creative talents, Schroeder sought out glory on the playing fields, and excelled, most prominently, in the international sport of soccer. It was this global pastime that piqued Schroeder’s interest in far-away people and lands, sparking his passion for travel.

As his formal education continued onto the collegiate level, Schroeder’s constant desire for new surroundings brought him to two undergraduate universities and a worldwide soccer journey through Denmark, England, Guatemala, and finally Argentina. It was in Argentina that Schroeder met Mr. K. Harrow – a fan of Schroeder’s soccer team and a successful international businessman, entrepreneur and playboy. Schroeder ‘s interactions with this Renaissance man were memorable.

Most notable was one of K. Harrow’s many truisms – “Life is most enjoyable when traveling with friends to far-away places wearing comfortable, yet finely-crafted clothing.” This revelation, making explicit what Schroeder had begun to learn through experience, changed the course of his life.

By the end of his 21st year, Schroeder had dedicated himself to perfecting the marriage of his love of travel with his passion for clothing- a vision that K. Harrow had articulated so well and that had permanently been imprinted into Schroeder’s psyche. Accordingly, Schroeder began experimenting with materials and garment construction techniques.

Jettisoning more traditional approaches to fashion, Schroeder entered Rutgers Law School and eventually the law profession, which took him, of all places, to Cuba and South Africa. In Cuba he studied and smoked Cohibas at Che Guevara’s gravesite, contemplating the mysteries and vagaries of politics and international diplomacy. In South Africa, he studied in Soweto and Cape Town, and was named an honorary guest worthy of a Springbok tattoo that was ceremoniously needled onto his forearm as a tribute to his time there. In keeping with his personality, vast and contradictory, Schroeder subsequently joined a white-shoe law firm in Philadelphia – all the while moonlighting with fabrics and textiles, silhouettes and details, yet still to travel to new places and meet new people.

What is the inspiration for your collection?

Each piece is inspired by Schroeder ‘s travels, both around the world and down the road. The collection is versatile, meticulously fitted and comfortable – all essentials for the modern, fashion-conscious traveler. Moreover, the line utilizes various non-wrinkle, low-maintenance and wearable fabrics. As important as the physical qualities, the collection is purposefully basic, with just the right amount of detail necessary to make each item irrefutably unique and altogether timeless.

Everything’s a Journey.

Who is your customer?

The typical KH customer is well-traveled, well-educated and conscious enough about fashion to want to appear effortlessly pulled-together, wherever they may be.

Who wears it?

While KentonHarrow is not yet a household name, the line has been worn for years by a select yet eclectic network of trusted associates and fellow travelers. It is these individuals who have helped perfect the line’s performance, fit and style. This illustrious, diverse group includes many entrepreneurs, athletes, doctors, lawyers and musicians.
Some of the more notable literary figures include Noam Chomsky and Timothy Ferris.

Your logo is a key. Where did the inspiration for that come from?

Since time immemorial, keys have facilitated access to valuable property and secured lands. The KH logo is forged from this storied past. Individually, the two keys embody the pillars of the KH ethos – uncompromising integrity and insatiable ambition. Together, the crossed keys represent one’s admittance into the haute monde of KentonHarrow, a flourishing KH community that embodies a global society of entrepreneurial spirit, style and principle.

This is your first year designing and your first year at Project. Do you feel it was what you expected?

PROJECT is an amazing show and the people that run it are incredible. Presenting the line to the general fashion public, and seeing, first-hand, their positive reaction excites me and confirms that KH is something special.

What’s next for the collection?

We will continue to sell this line, seeking distribution at select locations, and then start to design our Spring/Summer line.

You do a ton of things on a daily basis. How do you balance it all?

I need very little sleep. It is something I have inherited from my father. I typically go to bed at 1:00 A.M. and get up around 5:00 A.M. It’s the only way I’ve been able to pursue my law career, while designing, producing and showing the KH line.

Todays the last day of maurices Project Handbag challenge. We got over 100 entries from all over the country. There’s still time to submit so feel free to click on the giant maurices button that’s on the top of our site.

Work for this dude, nifty.

Fashionista is a new show from the Tyra Banks crew that focusses around a bunch of fashionable someday somebodies looking to get a job at Elle Magazine, working the days as Joe Zee’s assistant. They are casting fashionable types for the show. Read the notice below and try out.

Daniel Saynt might be making his way to the casting this Thursday, not for the glory, just to check it out. I wonder if I have the right outfit for it?

“Can you identify the best designs from the top designers with a glance? Are Manolo, Prada and Gucci a few or your favorite words? Is one of the best things in your life your wardrobe and footwear? Do you spend hours lost in a copy of Elle Magazine, daydreaming about a career in fashion?

If so, the CW Television Network and the creators of “Project Runway” and “America’s Next Top Model” are about to offer you the opportunity of a lifetime!

No experience necessary. But style, intelligence and a great work ethic are a must.

We are now casting an untitled reality competition that will take viewers (and cast members) behind the fashion world’s velvet rope for a chance to work side-by-side with a who’s-who of high fashion and a chance at a career-launching grand prize.

Email us at FashionFabCasting@gmail.com In order to be considered you must tell us in one page or less who you are and why you stand out in the crowd. Include your name, age, city, occupation, and contact phone number and email address. Also, send two clear current photos of your choice: one full body, one closeup!

THE OPEN CALL WILL TAKE PLACE THIS SATURDAY FEB. 9TH FROM 11AM TO 4PM!!! BE THERE!!
Park Central New York
870 Seventh Avenue at 56th Street
New York, NY 10019

Registration location: Manhattan Skyline”