California Apparel News

NEW YORK—Three students from California recently took top prizes in the first-ever hosiery fashion design contest. In DuPont’s “Tomorrow’s Designs Today” contest, the fiber manufacturer asked contest participants to go straight to the source—to speak directly to their peers for insight into the types of hosiery that consumers want to wear.

Winners were announced by actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler from “The Sopranos” at an invitation-only event on Aug. 6 in New York. Of the four finalists, three were from California, including first-place winner Paul Fan from Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, secondplace winner Kenndra L. Lopez from the Los Angeles campus of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) and third-place winner Lakshmi Gopalkrishnan from FIDM’s San Francisco campus. Winners received cash prizes in addition to paid trips to New York. The design competition drew 400 design entries from eight design schools nationwide.

Student designs revealed the power of youth culture in full force, targeting a younger hosiery market—the twentysomethings that many companies are courting. The unexpected use of color, printed and knitted straps and buckles, simulated thigh-highs, one-pieces knitted or printed to look like two, asymmetric webbing details and built-in lace-ups and boots, as well as the trendy tattoo influence, made hosiery designs fresh and unique.

Student sketches were reviewed by several hosiery manufacturers, among them Wolford, Hue, Givenchy, Levante, Silks, Secrets Gamine, Tennaco, Doris, Phantom, Holt and Kayser-Roth. Selected designs were made into samples using DuPont’s Tactel, Lycra and Coolmax fibers, which were evaluated by a panel of judges representing the industry, including such labels as Emma Black, Escada, Donna Karan, View Collection and Alice & Trixie. Judges based their decisions on creativity, versatility, innovation, knowledge of manufacturing processes, ease of production and product salability.

Margaret Jacob, DuPont’s global marketing and communications manager, legwear, pointed out that the contest’s main purpose was to stimulate creative thinking in the hosiery industry. “We’re pursuing a consumer-oriented marketing approach, but it’s tough to get consumers to say what they want when it doesn’t exist,” Jacob said. “So of the 400 or so ideas that came out of this contest, that’s real industry research that we can use.”

Judge Sally F. Kay, president of the Hosiery Association, a global trade organization, said that she was very impressed and very excited by the student submissions. “This is a shining example of what our industry needs because hosiery is fashion,” she said. “With an increasing interest in attracting younger consumers, these designs really hit the mark.”

Others echoed her sentiment. “Some of these designs are the most exciting I’ve seen in a long time—especially for the teen market,” said Bevin Karl, merchandising editor for Seventeen. “Our readers are looking for hosiery that is sheer and simple with just the right amount of sparkle to complete their look. I can see clearly how these would be perfect for a variety of occasions, especially prom.”

Paul Fan’s first-place concept garment manufactured by Wolford was an Art Deco–inspired flesh tone and black full-body stocking that incorporated a mix of bold linear and checkerboard patterns, creating the look of an elegant body tattoo.

On receiving his award from Sigler, Fan was visibly thrilled. “I’d like to thank DuPont for this great opportunity,” he said. “It’s a chance for students to see their designs come to life and to gain important experience for the future.”

A short segment on the DuPont event will air in an upcoming episode of ABC-TV’s “Main Floor,” a 30-minute show on women’s fashion and beauty. —Tina Henderson