Alumni
Design Grad Illene Martoseno Named as Finalist in Supima Design Challenge
Design Graduate Illene Martoseno (pictured second from right) is one of the eight talented finalists in the 12th annual Supima Design Competition, which culminates with a show at Pier 59 during New York Fashion Week. Participating finalists, who hail from eight of the country's top design schools, recently gathered in New York City for the competition's first fitting.
“I had a great time during the fitting in NYC,” said Illene. “I got to meet all of the talented and inspiring finalists. The whole Supima team was incredibly professional and very supportive. I got great mentoring from Bibhu and had an amazing interview with InStyle Magazine. It was truly an unforgettable experience.”
The fitting was an opportunity for each finalist to show the current progress of their collections to Supima and CFDA award-winning women’s wear designer Bibhu Mohapatra, who has acted as a mentor for the last five years. In addition to debuting their designs during New York Fashion Week, the final collections will be presented during Paris Fashion Week.
“The concept of my collection,” said Illene, “is to transform the fabric beyond its limit, adhering to the beauty of creating three-dimensional textiles onto fabric. I was inspired by the strength of architecture and the beauty of nature. Through my collection, I want to embrace the beauty of craftsmanship and the dynamic form of movement.”
“We are so proud of this year’s group of finalists," said Buxton Midyette, VP of Marketing and Promotions for Supima, the marketing brand for American-grown pima cotton. "They are all extremely talented and are bringing such creativity and innovation to their Supima collections.”
When asked how FIDM helped prepare her for this exciting competition, Illene said, “I would not have made it without FIDM. FIDM has been very supportive this whole time, always make sure that I am not alone, always make sure that we are in this journey together and therefore I am so grateful for that.”
Ilene and her fellow competitors are tasked with creating five looks for each type of Supima fabric: shirting, knit, velveteen, twill, and denim. They also must design an evening wear look for each fabric, creating a five-piece capsule collection. The winner receives a $10,000 prize, priceless exposure to the industry, and the opportunity to accompany their designs to Paris Fashion Week.
Follow Illene Martoseno on IG @illenemo.
