For the past five weeks the public has been able to walk by the front windows of the 600 S. Michigan building and vote on their favorite upcycled Patagonia garment, deciding the top three out of 11 different student designs.
Senior fashion design major Lorena Castro took first place, followed by junior fashion design major Ciara Brophy in second and junior fashion studies major Eileen Vivoda in third.
Castro created a size inclusive outfit complete with a purse, made for a size 14 model. Brophy created an avant-garde floor length, long sleeve puffer jacket-trumpet dress, hood included. Vivoda created a reversible trapper hat, with one side being sherpa and the other canvas, decorated with patches from Vivioda’s own personal collection as well as ones donated from fellow peers.
The original plan for displaying these garments saw their eventual end after voting, but, in a change of plans, Patagonia’s team decided to continue their showcase at their Fullerton Market location.
“All of the pieces are so amazing that I wanted even the runners-up to have some time in our store,” said Kym Midanek, the area visual merchandiser who covers the Central U.S. and Canada for Patagonia. This saw the runner-ups being put on display around the Worn Wear section of their store.
Senior visual merchandising majors Haven Hathaway, Neelofar Syed, Fredo Medina and fashion design BFA student Alex Abbott contributed to the front window display of the Fullerton Market Location as well as the displays around the Worn Wear store.
“I think this partnership epitomizes what our institution is about and the meeting of two very important missions,” Interim President and CEO Jerry Tarrer said at an event honoring the winners on Wednesday, Dec. 11. “Our mission is to prepare creatives to go out into the world, to change the world through their careers, to contribute to the global creative economy, and you guys represent all of that in so many ways.”
The winners all had the choice of taking home either a large Patagonia duffle bag or any piece from the Patagonia Worn Wear room free of charge.
“I was really just like, I want to make something that I’ve never made before and something that matches with what I design, but also something that I could see them sell,” said Vivoda. “It was so cool. I was just like, oh my god, I can’t believe I actually won, because there were so many pieces that were so good.”
Castro said she was happy to participate. “It’s really not about winning,” she said. “It’s really just about participating and being able to have an opportunity to say, ‘Hey, I put in the work, and this is what came out of it.’”
Brophy said she didn’t think she would win.
“I hope they keep doing them because I think it’s good to do a competition, practice that, and also connect with a brand or other industry professionals, that’s a super cool opportunity,” Brophy said.
Jason Wilhite, Patagonia’s activism team lead, said Patagonia hopes to provide another opportunity to partner in the future.
“If this is something that Columbia students are interested in the future, I think our hope is that we can kind of tweak and improve and maybe do it again in the future if that’s something that folks are interested in,” Wilhite said.
In addition to the three winners, there was a raffle for a book, a hat and a small backpack for participants in the challenge.
“I love Columbia. Sometimes I feel like people are like, ‘Oh what’s really gonna come of your degree there?’ But, obviously, this is a pretty great thing that I haven’t really seen done at other schools,” Vivoda said.
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