FIDM DEBUT.....Solstiss Lace and TCL NXT in FASHION Competitions for the FIDM DEBUT 2024 Show!

FIDM DEBUT Collaborations--(Clockwise from top) Solstiss CEO Francois Damide presenting Solstiss winner Tiana Nguyen Mai with Nick Verreos and David Paul; TCL  x FIDM NXT in Fashion Winner Ronald Harris Jr. with Nick Verreos and David Paul; Model in Ronald Harris Jr. Design; Model in Design by Tiana Nguyen--FIDM DEBUT 2024 Show

Photos Courtesy of Alex Berliner/ ABImages, TCL 

As part of this year's FIDM DEBUT final show, we had the honor of collaborating with two WONDERFUL companies--one, a French Couture Lace company, Solstiss--and the other, TCL Electronics--to develop two separate design competitions, each with their own fabulous prizes and each creating exciting and creative collaborations to expand our student's creative visions. The winning designs and students were announced and presented at the end of the DEBUT Show, creating an outstanding and exciting finish.

SOLSTISS x FIDM:

FIDM Fashion Design and Advanced Fashion Design Co-Chairs Nick Verreos and David Paul with Solstiss CEO Francois Damide at the FIDM DEBUT 2024 Show, Cooper Design Space Los Angeles

Earlier in the program year, we had the opportunity to collaborate with our very good friend, Solstiss Lace CEO Francois Damide, on an exciting opportunity for our Advanced Fashion Design Program students, titled the Solstiss Academy. Damide visited our class and presented a masterclass on the History of French Lace and, in particular, what makes Solstiss couture lace among the best in the world. In addition, during the masterclass, he educated our students on understanding handmade textiles and introduced the sponsoring Solstiss Academy program. 

SOLSTISS x FIDM DEBUT 2024 Designers: (L to R) Kevin Sayari, Raiah Chavah Young, Andrea Urdaneta Ranaldi, Bella Jean Conner and Tiana Nguyen Mai--Cooper Design Space Los Angeles

Several Advanced Fashion Design Program students were given yards of Solstiss couture French Lace and incorporated them into their final DEBUT 2024 capsule collection designs. They were then subsequently judged by a panel of design industry experts and Solstiss CEO Francois Damide, who would then eventually present a TOP PRIZE of a $3,000 Solstiss Lace credit and fabric credit prizes to the second and third place finalists...

The Solstiss X FIDM First Prize...went to Tiana Nguyen Mai (L) with Nick Verreos, Solstiss CEO Francois Damide, and David Paul--FIDM DEBUT 2024

First Prize Design using Solstiss French Lace, from Tiana Nguyen Mai--FIDM DEBUT 2024

Finalists Bella Jean Conner (L) and Kevin Sayari (R)--using Solstiss French Lace--FIDM DEBUT 2024

TCL x FIDM NXT in FASHION COMPETITION:

FIDM Fashion Design and Advanced Fashion Design Co-Chairs Nick Verreos and David Paul, with FIDM Alumna, Project Runway Finalist, Designer Candice Cuoco, one of the Judges of the FIDM x TCL NXT in FASHION Competition--FIDM DEBUT 2024

In addition to collaborating with Solstiss Lace, we had the pleasure of partnering with TCL Electronics for a special competition called TCL NXT in FASHION! TCL gifted our 21 Advanced Fashion Design Program with the unique TCL NXTPAPER 11 tablet to sketch their designs for their final project, the FIDM Debut Fashion Show. A renowned panel of judges evaluated their creations and bestowed cash prizes, furnished by TCL to the top designers. A total grand prize of $10,000 was awarded to a Winner and two finalists...

The TOP prize of $7,000 cash went to Ronald Harris Jr.--FIDM x TCL NXT in FASHION Competition, FIDM DEBUT 2024

The Finalists: Graduates Cam Wilson (his design at lower left) and Ashot "Ash" Markosyan (his design at lower right) received cash prizes of $2,000 and $1,000 respectively--FIDM x TCL NXT in FASHION Competition, FIDM DEBUT 2024

TCL X FIDM NXT in FASHION Competition 2nd & 3rd Finalists and their designs (L to R) Cameron Wilson and Ashot "Ash" Markosyan

The TCL x FIDM NXT in FASHION Competition Winner and Finalists with Judges--The judging panel was composed of notable alumni and figures from the fashion industry including Candice Cuoco, Project Runway finalist and current Vice President of Creative at Frederick's Hollywood and House of Desire; Godoy (not pictured), former Netflix Next in Fashion contestant and RuPaul's Drag Race designer; Marina Toybina, seven-time Emmy Award-winning costume designer; Trinidad Garcia, a marine veteran and owner of Trinidad3 Jeans; TJ Walker, FIDM faculty member and co-founder of Cross Colours and Black Design Collective; and TCL's Manager of Social Media Kaylaynn McAdams.

CONGRATULATIONS Ronald Harris Jr.!!! And a HUGE THANK YOU to Solstiss and TCL for their wonderful partnerships, and collaborations, and for adding an extra FABULOUS touch to our final FIDM DEBUT Runway Show!