Blaec, a local boutique and a leader in cutting edge fashion, has launched Collection 1.0, a design contest that will give emerging fashion designers the chance to expose their work to the world.

From now until August 1, aspiring designers may enter their work into the challenge by submitting four original pieces. The samples, geared for a Spring ’08 fashion line, will judged in August to select eight outstanding finalists. These chosen fashion front-runners will have their first entries featured on blaec.com throughout the month of September, displayed online so Blaec’s customers-as well as other designers and contestants-can cast their votes for the winning lines.

The three finalists, selected by the public, will have their original collection displayed on the website alongside prominent designers like Alexander Wang, Lars Anderson, and Philip Lim. Their new line will be carried by the boutique, available for online purchase, throughout the spring season.

So far, fashion schools from as far as London, Stockholm, and Milan have responded enthusiastically to the challenge. Hopeful designers are expected to enter independent projects, as well as samples of creations sewn in fashion school. And, since this is the first time Blaec has hosted such a competition, estimates for the number of entries range from about a hundred up to a thousand different collections.

For the finalists, this contest will act as a sort of “Inagural Launch Pad,” said Danielle Rubi, a Blaec photographer and a coordinator of Collection 1.0. The Boutique sees a lot of traffic, serving as an online international go-to source. Fashion magazines like Lucky, People, and In Style list Blaec as an excellent internet source of fashion.

Blaec expects a wide range of women’s wear styles to be represented, which corresponds well with the store’s proclaimed “easy, throw-together, make-it-up-as-you-go fashion” that ranges from jeans to suits and dresses. If all goes well, the store may consider making the contest an annual occurrence.

Go to the website to track the progress of the contestants, and don’t forget to vote on your favorite designers this September.

Login

Please note this login is to submit events or press releases. Use this page here to login for your Independent subscription

Not a member? Sign up here.