The Stitch New Orleans: Where Emerging Talent Takes Center Stage

Photo Credit – Travis Burke | @tb_lenswork

New Orleans Fashion Week’s Season 16 delivered an unforgettable night of fashion, creativity, and philanthropy with The Stitch New Orleans, presented in partnership with Tampa Bay Fashion Experience (TBFE).

Reimagining NOFW’s signature design competition as a platform for fashion development, The Stitch celebrates emerging designers while connecting them with mentorship, education, industry opportunities, and national exposure. The competition was judged by an accomplished panel of fashion and media professionals: Taneka Bowles, Founder of Tampa Bay Fashion Experience; Pedram Taheri, Couture Fashion Designer; Dr. Lisa Lewis, former LSU Fashion Professor; and Tamica Lee, New Orleans personality and fashion influencer.

Taking home the top honor was Sylvester West, whose avant-garde collection commanded the runway with dramatic silhouettes, unexpected details, and a fearless sense of fashion. His collection delivered serious Met Gala energy—the kind of bold, theatrical looks you could imagine on icons like Beyoncé or Lady Gaga. One standout look featured a breathtaking dress created from 87 bags of hair, a powerful tribute to the crown, glory, beauty, and cultural significance of women’s hair.  As the winner, Sylvester will have the opportunity to showcase his collection with Art Hearts Fashion during New York Fashion Week in February 2027, taking his New Orleans creativity to one of fashion’s biggest stages.

Designer Andrea Valentina earned a runner-up honor with an innovative collection that transformed Amazon packaging into a striking high-low skirt. The design reflected her passion for upcycling, sustainability, and reimagining everyday materials through a fashion-forward lens. Along with designers Kate Fusilier and Denisio Truitt, Andrea was awarded the opportunity to attend the Christian Siriano Fashion Design Boot Camp in New York City.

The evening also demonstrated fashion’s power to create meaningful community impact, as TBFE made a philanthropic donation to Son of a Saint, supporting its mission to empower young men in New Orleans.