The SPLC’s Fashion is Freedom Showcase is a fashion design competition that serves as an exciting and innovative opportunity to engage young fashion enthusiasts in the movement for social change and voter empowerment in Mississippi.
In this competition, designers must produce a collection of six original looks, and meet the deadlines and requirements outlined below. Emerging young artists ages 16-18, 19-25, and 25 and older may enter. Only one collection per designer.
Registration is free.
Completed designs must be submitted for judging by 11:59 p.m. CT, Friday, July 12, 2024.
The finalists will premiere Friday, Aug.16, 2024, at the Fashion Is Freedom Runway Showcase in Jackson, Mississippi, at The Road to 60: Organize, Mobilize, Defend and Win Summit.
The top three winners will be awarded a cash prize.
How to Compete
Designers must create an original six-piece garment collection. The collection must not have appeared in other competitions and/or showcases (except student class exhibitions approved by the SPLC). Individual pieces may appear elsewhere, but the collection must be unique to this competition.
The collection should speak to the future of democracy, what it means to participate in a representative democracy, and/or convey a positive message of change, hope and civic engagement. The designs should be well-built and wearable.
Eligibility
- Designers must be from and/or live in Mississippi.
- Designers must be 16 years or older.
- If eligible, you must be registered to vote.
Important Dates and Events
- Registration and design submissions: Until 11:59 p.m. CT, Friday, July 12, 2024.
- Semi-Finalist for Fashion Is Freedom rehearsals: Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, and Friday, Aug. 16, 2024.
- Fashion Is Freedom Runway Showcase: 7 p.m. CT, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024.
Judges’ Awarding Criteria
The Road to 60 Summit begins Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. An official jury made up of artists, critics, writers, designers and educators will award points to the designer’s collection. The best designs are to be selected according to form, functionality and emotional resonance of the apparel; the designs are to be considered for their degree of innovation, aesthetic qualities, choice of materials and fabric, the effectiveness of the technique, and sustainability practices.
All criteria will be graded on a 100-point scale.
Creativity (20 points)
- Consider how the designs stand out. Do the designs make you want to see more of the designer’s work? Designs should represent original ideas.
Design (20 points)
- Design should be flawless in execution. Consider the detail and the time that the designer put into their submissions.
Resourcefulness (20 points)
- Consider if the materials used are limited or specific to the design. This is especially true if the designer involves recyclable or unusual materials. Did the designer use sustainable practices?
Presentation (20 points)
- Consider if the collection reads well as a whole and has a consistent theme. The music, hair and makeup should add to the overall theme of the collection.
Mastery (20 points)
- Consider how well the garments are made. Does the designer exhibit effective use and understanding of techniques? Details and embellishments should be flawless.
Prize Winners
- All designs will be assessed and scored using specific design and contest criteria by a team of skilled reviewers.
- Reviewers will determine the top five designer semi-finalists using a rubric: creativity, design, resourcefulness, presentation and mastery.
- Selection of top five semi-finalist designers will be announced Friday, July 12, 2024.
- Top five semi-finalist designers will be invited to showcase their designs during the Fashion is Freedom Showcase during SPLC’s Road to 60: Organize, Mobilize, Defend, and Win Training Summit on Aug. 16, 2024, in Jackson, Mississippi, to compete for one of three cash prizes.
- All semi-finalists will receive one complimentary hotel room for the nights of Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, and Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. Designers will also receive a complimentary registration to the summit and have an opportunity to have their designs showcased online.
- All semi-finalists will be required to be in Jackson and participate in the Fashion Is Freedom Showcase rehearsal, on Thursday evening, Aug. 15, 2024, and the morning of Friday, Aug.16, 2024. The order in which collections will be presented will be determined by lottery drawing before rehearsal.
- Prize winners will be determined by a panel of judges who will decide the first, second and third prize winners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your designs must be yours and the collection must debut at the SPLC Fashion is Freedom Showcase.
To be considered for the Fashion is Freedom Showcase’s cash awards, designers must be able to prove that the collection is their original creation. Each collection must debut at Fashion is Freedom Showcase and must not have appeared in other competitions and/or showcases (except approved student class exhibitions). Individual pieces may appear elsewhere before the competition. Evidence of the original design process must be submitted upon registration. Types of evidence include design sketches, original graphic artwork, original digital renderings, and/or photographs of live designs as proof of concept; progress photos, and records of materials acquisition (purchase orders or receipts, for example). AI-generated submissions will NOT be accepted.
Must my collection be handmade, or may it be manufactured?
Both handmade and manufactured looks are acceptable so long as they are your designs and meet the other criteria. However, designers are encouraged to submit all sketches, graphic artwork, original digital renderings or photographs of live designs as proof of concept. All looks in a collection must be original to the designer, independently produced and financed — no funding by commercial clothing brands. The collection must not have appeared in other fashion design competitions.
Use Standard Sizing Guidelines
Designers must adhere to the Universal Standard Sizing Guide. Designers are STRONGLY encouraged to design for a variety of body types. This makes your design more accessible to a variety of models and also shows your versatility as a designer.
Will models be provided for the runway show?
Models from local universities will be made available for the Fashion is Freedom Rehearsal Runway show and rehearsal.
Can I make changes to my collection?
The designs submitted to SPLC’s Freedom is Fashion showcase for consideration must be those that walk the runway during the competition. However, a designer may elect to change the exact piece of clothing for another of the same pattern and style if it is required to fit a model. Other alterations may be made to fit your model of choice. Accessories may be added as well. The spirit of the competition is that the pieces that walk are the pieces you were selected on. Designers must communicate their intent to make changes prior to committing to those changes.
Designer responsibilities and communication.
The designer may assign a point of contact (POC) other than the designer to communicate with the SPLC staff – to ask questions on behalf of your project and to field inquiries from us. All decisions, questions or concerns will be communicated with the POC only. From there, the POC may disseminate any pertinent information to the designer and their team. This is to avoid confusion and prevent multiple calls about the same issue in or out of the office. If the POC is anyone other than the designer who submits the registration form, that information must accompany the registration form in the field “Primary Contact” which will ask for name, email and phone number for the POC.
Keep your collection under wraps.
We ask all designers to keep their collection as much out of public view prior to the Freedom Is Fashion Showcase as is possible. If one or more of looks will appear elsewhere before the competition, let the SPLC staff know in advance.
How are finalists chosen?
After each designer’s collection is submitted for consideration, the top five semi-finalist designers will be chosen by SPLC Reviewers Selection Committee to compete during the SPLC’s Freedom is Fashion Showcase at The Road to 60: Organize, Mobilize, Defend, Win Summit before a panel of nationally recognized judges along with a live audience. The top three winners will take home a cash prize.
