Rising stars of fashion

Dallas fashion stars to toast up-and-comers with scholarships and awards in virtual show

Today's fashion students are tomorrow's fashion stars.

Photo courtesy of FGI Dallas

Fashion designers may get used to working behind the scenes, but talented up-and-comers around North Texas have the chance to step into bright lights to be honored with scholarships next month. Virtually, at least.

Bright local fashion students will be awarded more than $30,000 in scholarships from Fashion Group International of Dallas in a Project Runway-style virtual event on April 21. Dubbed "The Future of Fashion," the ceremony will feature a keynote talk by Dr. Maryann Cairns, assistant professor of anthropology at Southern Methodist University's Dedman College. She is spearheading groundbreaking new sustainability initiatives in the fashion industry.

The full presentation, beginning at 6 pm, will highlight award-winning designs from top-tier students at fashion schools, colleges, and universities with a chance to win scholarships valued up to $5,000 each and a coveted apprenticeship, according to a release.

But first, students have to apply. Here's what they need to know to do so.

Submissions are due April 2. Judging will begin April 5 in a number of apparel design and merchandising categories, as well as two new scholarship award categories: Apparel Sustainability in Fashion Design, and Digital Sustainability in Store Design or Fashion Portfolio.

The scholarship categories for 2021 are:

Fashion Excellence - $5000
Director's Choice - $5000
Bridal/Evening Gown/Cocktail/Little Black Dress - $2000, $1000, $500
Sportswear - Men’s and Women’s - $2000, $1000, $500
Apparel Sustainability (technology/repurposed) - $2000 (in any category above using organic or recycled materials, considering socio-economic, environmental and ethical aspects of design)
Digital Fashion Portfolio - $2000, $1000
Digital Store Planning and Design - $2000, $1000
Digital Sustainability (technology/repurposed) - $1000
Apprenticeship - opportunity for a student to work under the guidance of an established design professional in a local company and learn all aspects of the business from development through production and into marketing, sales, and ultimately retail placement.

Interested students must submit apparel designs in two categories including Evening/Bridal/Cocktail and Sportswear (men and women combined). Merchandising students must submit digital projects in two categories, including Store Planning and Fashion Portfolio. The top awards in apparel design will be first place for Fashion Excellence and Director’s Choice.

Find out more about the competition on its official website.

FGI Dallas is part of Fashion Group International, Inc., a global, nonprofit, professional organization with more than 6,000 members representing all areas of the fashion industry. Dallas has the second largest chapter outside of New York City.

To date, FGI Dallas has awarded over $210,000 in scholarships and hosted its first ever virtual competition last year, which awarded over $60,000.

“We refuse to let the pandemic stop us from our mission to serve our community of talented students seeking a career in fashion and sustainability. You can expect to see high-quality craftsmanship in designs from the next generation of North Texas designers, merchandisers, and entrepreneurs, so we would not miss the opportunity to raise money and honor them,” says Nerissa Helpenstill, Regional Director of FGI Dallas, in the release.

One thing the pandemic has postponed, sadly, is FGI's coveted Paris American Academy Couture Award, which allows one winner to study abroad in Paris with a generous scholarship. Oh well, plenty of time for Paris in the future.

What cannot wait are submissions, which — remember — are due April 2.

FGI Dallas Scholarship Competition is sponsored by City Sewing, LLC (Platinum), Dallas Market Center (Gold), Tootsies (Gold), Sharon Young (Gold), Heidi Dillon (Silver), Marisa Howard (Silver), Lela Orr – Ferrah - (Apprenticeship), Leah Frazier (Advocate), and Marsi Hubbard (Partner).

For more information about the virtual event or the competition, follow the FGI Scholarship Competition Facebook page.

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Shopping News

Where to shop in Dallas right now: 7 zany new stores to check out

Thrifted Threads

Thrifted Threads chill vibe

With the holidays on the horizon, shopping is on the rise. This November edition of Where to Shop, CultureMap's monthly roundup of new shops, sales, and alternative shopping, has five unique new openings, ranging from fashion to skin care to sports apparel.

The roundup also includes two non-traditional entries, including a new benefits program at an area mall, and a place to get your passport — in case you're planning on shopping abroad.

Here's where to shop in Dallas for November:

Baseballism
Baseball camp that transformed into an off-field baseball clothing brand is now open at Allen Premium Outlets. The store offers baseball-themed clothing, hats, and accessories. Their collection features collaborations with several big league names, including MLB, Babe Ruth, Vin Scully and Field of Dreams. Caps and hoodies are especially popular items, such as the Junior's Silhouette for $36 or the short Sleeve Yankees hoodie for $79.

Firewheel Town Center
Garland shopping center is in the giving spirit with its latest Shop, Dine & Save program. Visitors can shop or dine at select stores, including Buckle, DSW, and Razzoo's, Ferah Tex-Med Kitchen, and receive a $25 Simon giftcard when they spend $150 or more. To get the giftcard, receipts have to be shown at the mall management office and include at least one shop and one restaurant from the same day. The special lasts through November 27.

Hill House
Originally a bedding company that launched in 2016, Hill House has extended their collection to offer home, accessories, baby & kids, bridal, and apparel. They opened a location in NorthPark Center at the end of October — their first in Texas and only their fifth store. Hill House is best known for the "Nap Dress," a flowing dress made for day or night wear. There's also a short version of the dress, such as the Scarlett Long Sleeve Mini, a plaid dress for $188. Just in time for season, they've launched holiday pajamas, featuring pajama sets, robes, and children's sets.

Glossier
Skincare, beauty, and fragrance concept just opened a 1,000 square-foot store at NorthPark Center, featuring its trademark whimsical displays that one might mistake for an art supply or paint store. They sell fragrances, scented skin creams, balms, cleansers, moisturizers, makeup, eyelash curlers, and other beauty products, a little on the pricey side, but they make the shopping experience fun with an immersive shopping experience. That stuff doesn't come for free. This is their 12 location in the U.S., joining Atlanta, Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, DC, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, NYC, Philadelphia, and Seattle.

Rally House
Sports apparel chain opened a location at Rockwall Crossing Shopping Center in Rockwall, with merchandise — headwear, accessories, collectibles — dedicated to Dallas-area teams including Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, and college teams like the Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders, and Texas A&M Aggies. They also offer locally-themed apparel and accessories that celebrate Dallas destinations and landmarks, such as an Uscape Pom Mens Knit Hat with a graphic of the Dallas skyline for $30 or a long sleeve Dallas sweatshirt for $42. This is the 22nd location in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Thrifted Threads
Houston-based vintage clothing reseller just made its debut in Deep Ellum at 2646 Main St. #620, next to Vidorra. Thrifted Threads was founded by Laith Awad, who began reselling clothes in 2017, initially as an online store until he opened a location in 2022 in Houston's Montrose District when he was only 18. He opened a second store in College Station in 2023. Deep Ellum is the third. They're known vintage apparel from jerseys to sweatshirts and hats, as well as collections of color-sorted clothes from the 70s to the 2000s. It's more than a store, with arcade games that don't require coins to play, a motorcycle display, and ice cream.

Collin County Passport Office
If you're "shopping" for a passport, a passport office just reopened in the Collin County Courthouse at 2100 Bloomdale Rd., McKinney. The new passport acceptance office will initially be appointment only, with bookings available through the District Clerk's website. Plans are underway to introduce same-day and walkup services in the near future.

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