Two Missouri State University digital fashion, merchandising and branding students turned creativity into recognition at one of the nation’s premier collegiate fashion competitions.

Junior Aleesha Brown and senior Hope Peck earned top placements and scholarships at the 58th annual Fashion Group International (FGI) Dallas Scholarship Competition. Both students competed in the event for the first time.

Held April 17 in Dallas, Texas, the prestigious competition brought together college students from across the country to showcase their talents in fashion design, merchandising and sustainability.

The event awards more than $40,000 in scholarships in a few categories. Fashion design categories include Black Tie/Bridal, Cocktail/Party, Daywear/Streetwear and Apparel Sustainability. Digital merchandising categories include Digital Merchandising and Store Planning, Fashion Portfolio and the newly added Digital Sustainability – 3D Collection.

Participants also get the opportunity to present their work to industry professionals, gain expert feedback and build valuable connections.

A winning showing

Brown won first place and a $1,000 scholarship in the Digital Sustainability – 3D Collection category. Peck finished second and received a $500 scholarship in the same category.

Brown was surprised to learn she had placed first. Unable to attend the competition, she received the news from Peck.

“I was shocked and in disbelief,” Brown said. “I think my collection stood out because it was solely outerwear and explored innovative shapes and tailoring through digital design.”

She and Peck submitted original digital collections that showcased sustainable design practices and 3D visualization techniques, a growing area within the fashion industry. The competition challenged students to explore innovative design solutions while preparing for the future of fashion through sustainability and technology.

Building skills

The duo developed their collections through coursework and independent study opportunities under the guidance of Sandra Bailey, assistant professor in the School of Construction, Design and Project Management.

For Brown, the experience sharpened her organizational skills and ability to balance multiple tasks and deadlines.

“One key skill I gained from this experience was time management,” she said. “There were many parts to the submission, so organization and time management were crucial.”

Peck noted preparing for the competition challenged her to balance creativity with deadlines.

“A lesson I learned is that you’ll always make mistakes; it’s how you handle and grow from them that matters,” she said.

Learning from industry professionals

Peck and fellow designer junior Alayna Love traveled to Dallas to attend the competition. During the day, they engaged in interactive programming with top industry professionals and participated in an awards presentation featuring finalists and their designs in the evening.

Beyond recognizing student achievement, the annual competition promotes industry priorities, such as sustainability, inclusivity, innovation and digital design.

In the future, organizers hope to have students compete in a Portfolio and Merchandising category.

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