CALL TO DESIGNERS – PROJECT UPCYCLE 2019

Get ready to stretch those creative muscles, fashion designers!

3S Artspace, Recovergirl & Goodwill of Northern New England are once again joining forces to promote regional designers and sustainable fashion in the 2nd Project Upcycle design competition.

If you are ready to meet other inspiring designers and put your design skills to the test, please apply to compete in this wildly creative and fast-paced design challenge, transforming secondhand clothing into a gala-worthy outfit!

TO APPLY, VISIT 3SARTS.ORG

Eight designers will be chosen for Project Upcycle which takes place March 28-30 and culminates in the highly anticipated Project Upcycle Runway Event on March 30, 2019.

ABOUT PROJECT UPCYCLE:
Project Upcycle brings emerging designers together to foster connections, encourage creativity, and inspire growth. We are helping to plant the seeds for sustainable fashion brands in New England and beyond, and developing an audience that will support you on your design path.

PRIZING:
A cash prize will be awarded to the top three designers. Prizes come with no strings attached. Winners can use the funds as they wish!
First Prize: $1,500
Second Prize: $1,000
Third Prize: $500

Creative Mornings PKX – Community

I have been reading Tina Roth Eisenberg’s blog (SwissMiss) for years. I read along as she started the Creative Mornings lecture series. It was thrilling to learn that it spread to my own community as Creative Mornings PKX.  I’ve wanted to attend many talks over the years but unfortunately, I am always at work.

Late last year, one of the organizers (Noelle Grattan of Five Line Creative) invited me to speak. I was really hesitant but also interested in accepting the challenge. I teach computer classes but I don’t have any experience giving talks. I thought — I could really embarrass myself!  (nervous emoji here!)

How it works is — each speaker around the globe is speaking on one common topic at essentially the same time. When it came time for me to pick a month to speak (and in so doing pick a topic to speak about) I was in the midst of organizing Project Upcycle. One of the options that was presented to me was “COMMUNITY.” When I heard that it felt right so I went with it.

Like I said, I didn’t have any experience presenting and I thought I could really embarrass myself so I decided to get professional help. (big smile emoji here). I reached out to Mike Teixeira at DECK Presentations for coaching. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. He gave me real concrete direction on how to improve my presentation and how to actually present it. The whole experience has opened my eyes to how helpful a coach can be. If you are struggling with something — get a coach!

Kate & Keith Photography

So without further ado, here is my Creative Mornings PKX talk. During my talk, I played a video about Project Upcycle. It is NOT spliced into the talk below.

THANK YOU!
Thank you, Noelle Grattan, for inviting me to speak. I wouldn’t have done it without your encouragement. Thank you, Keith Tharp, for being patient with me for the photo shoot thing. Sorry I was late! 🙂 Thank you, Raya Al-Hashmi and Miles Woodworth. Your energy reminded me of that final scene in Captain Phillips when Tom Hanks is being cared for by a very capable nurse. Your positive energy really bolstered me that morning. I really needed it.  And thank you, Monte Bohanan. It is always nice to see a familiar and supportive face. And thank you to that tech guy ( I don’t know your name) who made sure the audio worked on my video. Thank you to the whole Creative Mornings PKX team. It was an incredibly positive experience!

xo jam

 

Project Upcycle 2018 Designers

We are very pleased to announce the finalists for the 2018 Project Upcycle Sustainable Fashion Competition and Runway Event. These designers will be challenged to upcycle secondhand clothing provided by Goodwill into gala-worthy outfits. The live runway event takes place on Saturday, March 24, 2018. Cash prizes, provided by Saltwater Creative of Portsmouth, NH, will be awarded to the top three designers (First: $1,500, Second: $1,000, Third: $500). For event updates and to learn about the “role” models and VIP judges visit (and RSVP) to the Facebook Event Page. To learn more about the designers follow the links below.

Adara Bankhead is a high school senior from Portland Maine who loves vintage style clothing, making jewelry, sewing, and multimedia art.

Jackiellen Bonney is a textile and fashion designer with a focus on the human experience and how clothing can open new opportunities for healing, self-empowerment, and growth.

Jared DeSimio is an artist and designer who is always on the hunt for old worn-out clothes. A love of Hip-Hop and rural lifestyles are what influence his work the most.

Justin Desper is a Textile and Fashion Design graduate from Maine College of Art. While there, his focus centered on creating garments through a process that stimulates a desire to explore form, function, and problem-solving. With an appreciation for the bodies, his pieces adorn, Justin considers his models as collaborators in his work and holds his collaborative relationships in the highest regard.

Kirsten Elfe is a student of textiles and fashion at Maine College of Art and a Portsmouth native.

Maya Critchfield is an antique textile and tool seeker who specializes in fiber art, mending, and printmaking.

Tamsin Whitehead is an artist, designer and University Lecturer, teaching classes in feminism, sustainability and the fashion industry. Her academic work focuses on gender expression and representation, which she also explores in her wearable designs. She employs a variety of different media but is particularly interested in textiles and the transformation of materials through recycling.

Chloe Larochelle is a recent graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She is passionate about sustainability and hopes to play a role in this movement that is spreading to every corner of the industry.

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Mark your calendar and BUY YOUR TICKETS
before they are all gone!!!

SATURDAY, MARCH 24
6:00pm – 7:00pm Cocktail Hour & Gallery Pop-up
7:00pm – 9:00pm Runway Competition
9:00pm – 10:00pm After Party and Celebration
$35 for Members / $40 for Non-Members

Follow me (Recovergirl360), 3S Artspace, and Goodwill of Northern New England on Instagram for special announcements and behind the scenes Instagram stories.

xo jam