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Six promising design students from top schools around the country have been chosen to compete in the seventh cycle of Project OR, the industry's original 48-hour concept-to-prototype design competition held during Summer Market 2011.
"Each cycle of Project OR exposes the industry to some of the brightest new apparel design talent and gives us all a shot of inspiration to see these young designers' creativity and enthusiasm" - Kenji Haroutunian, VP and Outdoor Retailer Show Director
Click here to see full bios on the very impressive Project OR Summer Market 2011 student designers!
SUMMER MARKET 2011 CONTESTANTS
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| Amy Dorie San Francisco State University |
Ellen Johnson University of Wisconsin-Stout |
Jessica Walther Louisiana State University |
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| John-Paul Trang Rhode Island School of Design |
Nicole Naftzge Oklahoma State University |
Logan Garey Colorado State University |
Cycle 6 Winter Market 2011 Contestants:
WINNER OF PROJECT OR CYCLE 6 - Melaney Stevens of Oklahoma State University!
Stevens designed a stretchable, water resistant ice climbing pant to meet the specifications outlined in the Project OR design brief including flexibility, protection and versatility. Stevens' clean, feminine take on the specialized technical garment, combined with a modern look using targeted incorporation of color, won over the panel of industry design gurus judging the entries.
"My focus is in custom bridal wear so coming to Project OR was a new challenge," Stevens said. "I like being exposed to new apparel and new fabrics. It's changed my perception and I'm going to really look in this industry for opportunities in the future."
As the winner of Project OR, Stevens receives an all-expenses-paid return trip to Outdoor Retailer Summer Market '11 and a profile in Textile Insight.
Congratulations to University of Minnesota design student Silvia Guttmann for being runner up and selected for the People’s Choice Award!
Guttmann’s design, selected by OR attendees from six student designs, met the specifications outlined in the Project OR design brief for a functional women’s ice climbing pant while still providing a fashionable, attractive garment for consumers. Guttmann used Polartec and Shoeller fabric for the body of the pant, with lining from Hyperbola, reflective material from JRC Reflex and 3M, YKK zippers, pulls and buckles from ITW Nexus, and padding in high impact areas from Poron.
Thank you to all of the Winter Market 2011 Project OR Competitors for their creativity and hard work!
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Cycle 5 Summer Market 2010 Contestants
AND THE WINNER WAS.... SHANNON SMITH! Runner Up - and People's Choice winner was Kaity Doherty!
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| Shannon Smith University of Minnesota WINNER!! |
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| Kaitlyn Doherty Philadelphia University RUNNER UP!! ALSO THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER :) |
Amy Bittner (Malakye winner!) FIT, New York CONCEPT BOARD - 1ST PLACE! |
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| Virginia Gibbons Washington State University |
Teresa Hernandez Cal State University, Northridge |
Christina Hill University of Alabama |
The 2010 Winter Market Project OR winner was... Faith Anderson!
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| Faith Anderson: Philadelphia University |
1st runner up and People's Choice Award... Christina Johnson!
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| Christina Johnson: University of CA, Davis |
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| John Hamilton: Purdue University |
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| Lauren Price, Florida State University |
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| Mark Pimentel: Oregon State University |
Summer Market 2009 Project OR Contestants!
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| Lindsey Schuyler (Winner) Florida State |
Wildrose Hamilton, CO State (People’s Choice Winner) |
Johana Martinez CSULA |
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| Natalie Haddox Art Institute of CA |
Jeanne Lynn Douglass Cornell University |
View Past Project OR Episodes:
Project OR Winter Market 2010
About Project OR:
Project OR is a design competition held by Outdoor Retailer that celebrates the functionality, originality and design of outdoor recreation clothing. Outdoor Retailer hand-pick's five design students from top design programs around the country to produce a garment prototype that is original, an innovative use of performance and eco-friendly materials, and has a practical application for the outdoor market.
Once initial garment designs are complete on the first day, contestants turn their drawings into products using the latest fabrics, zippers and other clothing components provided by participating supplier exhibitors (to view list of suppliers click here). With sourcing complete, contestants spend the remainder of the 48-hour deadline at their work station (equipped with sewing machines, cutting tables, pressing equipment and tools) building their final prototypes.
Project OR competitors are filmed in a reality-competition type format that begins with an initial Design Brief and follows them through the conception, sourcing, production and final presentation stages of the competition. Video footage of each day of the competition will be posted to this page by 12:00pm that day (see below).
Project OR’s panel of judges, comprised of OR-selected designers and industry trend-setters, will review each contestant’s final prototype and presentation, and announce the winner on the last day of the show. The winning student will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Outdoor Retailer Winter Market '11. Additionally, show attendees will vote on contestant’s final prototypes and the one with the most votes will win the 2010 Project OR People’s Choice Summer Market Award.
