Fashion Story – The Stitch New Orleans: 10 Designers, One Fashion Future

Photos Courtesy of Designers

New Orleans Fashion Week is turning the spotlight toward the next generation of fashion talent with The Stitch New Orleans, a Reimagined Designer Competition presented in partnership with Tampa Bay Fashion Experience (TBFE). It marks the return of NOFW’s Designer Competition, which was last presented in 2019, under the name Top Design Competition. The 2019 winner, Brianna Thomas, has gone on to build an impressive career as a creative artist and designer, demonstrating the potential for NOFW’s Platform to help launch and elevate emerging talent.

The Stitch builds on that legacy while expanding the opportunities available to participating designers through its partnership with TBFE. More than a Runway Competition, The Stitch is designed to provide meaningful professional development, mentorship, industry exposure, and access to national opportunities.

This year, 10 exceptional designers will bring their creativity, craftsmanship, and unique perspectives to the runway, showcasing the depth and diversity of emerging fashion talent:

Andrea Valentina • Collin Semien • Denisio Truitt • Isaac Newton • Jaelan Ricard • Julia DeJean • Frank Robertson • Kate Fusilier • Skye Barker Maa • Sylvester Wesley

The designers represent talent from across the West Coast to the East Coast, with designers traveling to New Orleans from markets including Los Angeles and Miami, alongside emerging talent from Louisiana and other parts of the country. Their diverse backgrounds, aesthetics, and creative approaches reflect the growing reach of The Stitch New Orleans and NOFW as a platform for discovering and elevating fashion talent from across the country.

The stakes extend beyond the runway. The winning designer will earn the opportunity to showcase their collection at NYFW Art Hearts Fashion, providing an exciting platform to introduce their work on a national level. While the runner-up will receive the opportunity to attend the Christian Siriano Fashion Design Boot Camp in New York City—an immersive industry experience designed to elevate their craft, creative vision, and understanding of the fashion business.

The competition will culminate September 24th at Canal Place, 3rd Floor, with the designers presenting their work before an audience of fashion enthusiasts, industry professionals, media, and an esteem panel of judges.

“The Stitch New Orleans represents what New Orleans Fashion Week is all about—creating opportunities, elevating creative talent, and connecting emerging designers with meaningful industry experiences,” said Tracee Dundas, NOFW Founder and Executive Producer. “Through our partnership with Tampa Bay Fashion Experience, we’re expanding those opportunities beyond the runway through mentorship, education, and access to the National Fashion Stage. We’re investing in the future of fashion.”