SUPIMA DESIGN COMPETITION.....Recap of FIDM Finalist Illene Martoseno 2019 Supima Design Competition NYFW

Designs from Illene Martoseno, FIDM Finalist of the 2019 Supima Design Competition, from New York Fashion Week Show, Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC

 FIDM Fashion Design Co-Chair Nick Verreos and FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC

Last month were the Finals of the 2019 Supima Design Competition in NYC and since last year, as the Co-Chair of Fashion Design at FIDM, I have had the pleasure of participating along with our school's Finalist. For some background, Supima is a superior type of cotton that is American grown, representing only 1% of cotton grown in the world. What makes Supima cotton unique is its extra-long staple fiber giving it strength (twice as strong as regular cotton), softness and color retention.

Behind The Scenes of the Process: Part 1--Supima FIDM Finalist Illene Martoseno and FIDM Fashion Design Co-Chairs Nick Verreos and David Paul

Photos courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages

The Supima Design Competition was created to support and highlight emerging design talent from the top U.S. fashion design schools. Each year, finalists from top schools design and create five looks using Supima Cotton Poplin/Shirting, Velveteen, Twill, Knit Jersey and Denim. They are given the fabrics in WHITE and the rest is up to the emerging designers to "re-imagine" the Supima cotton. This year, the schools that participated included the Academy of Art University, Drexel University, FIT, Kent State University, Parsons, RISD, SCAD, and the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM. As the Co-Chair of FIDM Fashion Design--along with my fellow Co-Chair David Paul--we hand-picked a graduate of FIDM's B.A. of Design, Illene Martoseno as our FIDM Supima Finalist.

Behind The Scenes of the Process: Part 2--From patterns to dyeing....to fabric manipulating--Illene Martoseno, Supima FIDM Finalist

Illene had several months to create her five designs from scratch. Originally from Indonesia, the petite Martoseno inspired us with her directional creativity and original fabric manipulation ideas. In addition, she decided to custom dye the Supima cotton, adding another bespoke level to her one-of-a-kind designs. After months of designing, dyeing, fabric manipulating....it was time for NYC and the Final Fittings for the New York Fashion Week 2019 Supima Design Competition show:

Final Fittings:

Sketch to Designs--FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno

David and I flew to NYC to support and help Illene in every which way possible to make her showing at the 2019 Supima Design Competition be the best it could be... 

Ready for Final Fittings--FIDM Fashion Design Co-Chairs David Paul and Nick Verreos, supporting FIDM Supima Finalist, Illene Martoseno, arriving for 2019 Supima design Competition Final Fittings, Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC

Model Love--Wonderful running into model Jessica Millin, who was the final model in Bravo's "Project Runway" Season 17 Winner Jhoan "Sebastian" Grey's Finale Collection...she was there for the Model Castings/Fittings for the 2019 Supima Design Competition

Fittings...

 Knit Jersey Look--FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno fitting on her Supima Knit Jersey look (last photo, above)--One-shoulder multi-paneled top and skirt with custom spray-painted/ombre dyed and boned "hoops"--Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC

Shirting/Poplin Look--Model in FIDM Supima Finalist's Illene Martoseno design of fabric manipulated top with an attached multi-paneled skirt. The skirt had SIXTY panels, all custom spray-painted, ombre dyed and baby-hemmed--Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC

 Velveteen Look--Model in FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno's strapless dress featuring ombre dyed boned "swirls"--Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC

Twill Look--Model in FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno's ombre dyed/fabric manipulated halter-neck fitted dress--Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC

Demin Look--Model (and designer Illene Martoseno) in ombre dyed/fabric manipulated Dragon-like dress with a dramatic cape--Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC

The Five Looks--Models in FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno's designs--2019 Supima Design Competition--Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC

Illene Martoseno Supima Fabric Collage

The NY Fashion Week Show--2019 Supima Design Competition:

Supima Gift Bags--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC

 FIDM Fashion Design Co-Chairs Nick Verreos and David Paul with FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno--Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC

FIDM Fashion Design Co-Chairs David Paul and Nick Verreos with "7th on 6th" NYFW Creator and former CFDA Executive Director Fern Mallis and Harper's Bazaar Executive Fashion and Beauty Editor Avril Graham--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC

 The 2019 Finalists--The 2019 Supima Design Competition Finalists--Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC

Judges, Mentor Bibhu Mohapatra (center) and Supima VP of Marketing and Promotions, Buxton Midyette (7th from right)--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC

 Family Support--FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno (center) with her mother (2nd from left) and brother (2nd from right), and FIDM Fashion design Co-Chairs Nick Verreos and David Paul--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC

FIDM Fashion Design Co-Chairs David Paul and Nick Verreos with past FIDM Supima Finalists Leetal Platt (far left) and Genevieve Lake (2nd from right)--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC 

Illene Martoseno's Collection:

 Illene Martoseno, FIDM Supima Finalist--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC

Ombre Shirting Dress--Illene Martoseno, FIDM Supima Finalist--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC

Velveteen Swirls--Illene Martoseno, FIDM Supima Finalist--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC

 Twill Zig-Zag's--Illene Martoseno, FIDM Supima Finalist--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC

 Curved Couture--Illene Martoseno, FIDM Supima Finalist--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC

Denim Dragon Queen--Illene Martoseno, FIDM Supima Finalist--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC

The Collection--Illene Martoseno, FIDM Supima Finalist--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC

Models in FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno designs--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC

FIDM Fashion Design Co-Chairs Nick Verreos and David Paul with Illene Martoseno, FIDM Supima Finalist--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC

**Very Proud of our FIDM Supima Finalist, Illene Martoseno, and her OUTSTANDING 2019 Design Competition designs!!**