It’s the final week of the AMNW Design Challenge. Four talented fashion designers from the Art Institute of Portland are going head to head for the chance to win top prizes valued at $4500.
The final challenge is called “Push the Boundaries”. Each designer must create an Avant-garde look using fabrics by Robert Kaufman. The designers Natalya Herbert, Gerry Barnard, Amy Sim, and Lindsay Chapal can use any commercial brand pattern or use their own design.

Last Friday, the designers went to Fabric Depot, where they had 90 minutes (and a budget of $175) to formulate their design and select their fabrics and supplies. The choices the designers made were exciting and should inspire them to reach for that next level of fashion excellence!

On Friday, February 24th , the designers will present their Avant-garde fashions on AMNW. It is anyone’s race to win. The final challenge will be worth twice the point value as earned in prior weeks. The AMNW Design Challenge results will be announced on Monday, February 27th.

Be sure to log on to KATU.com to cast a vote for your favorite designer.

All Design Challenge garments are on display at Fabric Depot. Come by and take a look!

Week four of the AMNW Design Challenge

The designers from the Art Institute of Portland have once again brought their creative fashion designs to the competition. The challenge this week was “Take It Out”. The
designers were to create a cocktail dress using Michael Miller fabrics and a Vogue
pattern.

The judges, Pati Palmer, owner of Palmer/Pletsch Publishing, Eden Dawn, Fashion Editor Portland Monthly Magazine, and Johnny Schultz, Fashion Director of Q6 Model and Artist Management, were joined by guest judge Kathy Miller, co-owner of Michael
Miller Fabrics.

The scoring was based on fit, construction, design esthetics, use of materials, and originality. It has become a close competition.

Natalya Heber created a fit and flare fifties fashion in gold and black.

Lindsay Chapal created a belted purple cocktail dress in a simple silhouette with hot fix stones around the neckline, and metallic fringe at the hem.

Amy Sim designed a clean and classic dress with a gold belt at the waist. A narrow T-strap adorned the back.

Gerry Barnard created a bias woven front polka-dot cocktail dress with an orange belt.

It was difficult for the judges to pick a winner. Natalya earned the highest score.
Great job Natalya!

Next week’s final challenge is called “Push the Boundaries”. The designers must create an avant-garde look using Robert Kaufman fabrics. They will have a budget of $175 and ninety minutes to choose their fabrics and supplies. They can use any pattern company
or their own original design.

Be part of the fun and go to AMNW to vote for your favorite designer. The winner of the popular vote will win a prize of a $100 gift certificate to Fabric Depot, and a $100 gift
Certificate to Montavilla Sewing Centers. All garments will be on display at Fabric Depot.

The KATU Design Challenge is now in it’s fourth exciting week!

This morning Pati Palmer, of Palmer Pletsch Publishing, met with AMNW host Helen Raptis, to recap the results of last week’s “Take It To Work” contest, and to reveal the details of this week’s challenge. Last week’s challenge was to create a work wear ensemble using a McCall’s pattern and Telio fabrics. The talented designers, Gerry Barnard, Amy Sim, Natalya Hebert, and Lindsay Chapal from the Art Institute Of Portland, brought four distinctly different fashions to the contest.

Gerry’s design was a beautiful blouse and pant outfit. The pants were cut on the bias, which gave them a flared elegance. The top was a cotton lawn print with handmade ruffled trim.

Amy’s creation was a boucle dress and jacket that would go from a day at the office to an evening event.

Lindsay’s outfit was perfectly suited for a younger office associate. It featured stretch sateen animal print pants, with attached suspenders and paired with a textured knit top.

Natalya created a poly print blouse with a reversed shirttail over a magenta tank.
A pair of stretch sateen cropped pants finished off the look.

The winner of “Make It Work” was Gerry Barnard.
Congratulations Gerry!

This week’s challenge is called “Take It Out”. The designer’s will be creating a cocktail dress using Michael Miller fabrics, a Vogue pattern and have a budget of $125.00.
Michael Miller specializes in high quality cottons, and is always a trendsetter in the market place.

The next judging event is on Friday February 17th and should be spectacular! Kathy Miller of Michael Miller Fabrics will be this week’s guest judge. It will be interesting to hear what Kathy has to say about the fashions made from her fabrics.
Let’s Go Girls!

Week three of the AMNW Design Challenge.

The four designers from the Art Institute of Portland came together this morning on AMNW to show off their creations. This week’s challenge was to create a look suitable for the office using Telio fabric and a McCall’s pattern.

Judges, Pati Palmer of Palmer Pletsch Publishing, Eden Dawn, Fashion Editor of Portland Monthly Magazine, and Johnny Schultz, Fashion Director of Q6 Modeling and Artist Management, were joined by guest judge Bryce Black, a graduate of The Art Institute of Design, and who appeared on season nine of Project Runway.
Scoring was based on fit, construction, design esthetics, use of materials, and originality.

Gerry Barnard chose to create a long pant, cut on the bias for a
long flowing look. The blouse was constructed from cotton lawn to which she added a handmade ruffled trim. A fashion suitable for any office experience.

Amy Sim presented a boucle dress and matching jacket. This ensemble was designed for an office to evening look.

Linsay Chappal created a textured knit top teamed with a pair of stretch sateen animal print pants, with attached suspenders.

Natalya Aber designed a poly print blouse with a long shirttail front and short back. She combined this with a solid stretch sateen cropped pant, and magenta tank.

The winner of this week’s Work Wear Challenge is, Gerry Barnard.

Gerry’s risk paid off by designing a fashion forward, figure flattering ensemble.
Congratulations Gerry!

Next week’s challenge is “Take It Out”. The designers will have one week to create a cocktail dress using a Vogue Pattern and Michael Miller fabrics.

The garments are on display at Fabric Depot.

Vote for your favorite designer. Go to www.Katu.com AMNW to cast your vote.