As part of an expansion of an event pioneered in San Francisco, tomorrow night Portland will bear witness to the first round of "Fashion Feud Portland," described as a cross between Iron Chef and Project Runway. It's free and all ages, taking place at the Bossanova starting at 7, so feel free to sate your curiosity. Two designers kick off the competition, Jessica Cuciti and Dayoung Kim. Check the bios:
DESIGNER // DAYOUNG KIM
Dayoung Kim is a Portland, Oregon based designer with international flair. She began her studies at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco before transferring to the Samsung Art & Design Institute in Seoul, Korea; a Parsons, New York affiliate. After graduating from SADI, she completed a summer internship in Milan, Italy. Dayoung appeared in the television show sponsored by Seoul City called 'Project Next Designer' a Seoul version of Project Runway. Dayoung was selected as a winner, receiving a brand endorsement that she launched with a co-designer. While working in Korea, Dayoung attended Showroom Collection in Paris, wrote fashion columns in a magazine, and sold her label in 5 selected stores. She worked for one and a half years for the brand that she co-launched then moved to Mexico where she lived for the next year and a half. While living in Mexico and working as a freelance designer, Dayoung started a collection called DARAK. Now residing in Portland, Dayoung draws inspiration from her travels through India, the United States, Mexico and Korea and considers confident, chic, urban women to be her muse.DESIGNER // JESSICA CUCITI
Jessica Cuciti is a freelance designer with roots in separates, screen printing, and making-do. While studying apparel design and merchandising management at Oregon State University, Jessica founded Jessica's Silk Screening, a one-woman show that currently retails a custom print in five stores throughout the Willamette Valley. After graduating in 2008, Jessica participated in first and second annual ECOUTURE: Sustainable Fashion Show, produced by the Portland State University American Marketing Association. Many of the ECOUTURE garments were made from reused couch upholstery, and later from eco-friendly fabrics, such as bamboo, hemp, and recycled pop bottles. Not just a designer, Jessica also enjoys modeling for her friend, Sara Temme, owner of Love June Bridal, www.lovejune.etsy.com."
Judging the affair are the Portland Monthly's Eden Dawn and SewPo fabric's Kate Matlock. Although I'm sure it will be fun (subsequent rounds take place on March 3 and April 14, with finals scheduled for May 12), I know I can't be the only one becoming increasingly wary of the continued game-show-ification of fashion. You know what I appreciate about a custom design? The time spent making it. But whatever! Here's what to prepare for: "FASHION FEUD is a live fashion design competition. Designers are given a mystery bag of Mood Fabrics material, a live model, a hair and makeup team, and an hour to create a design. The finished designs are presented by the models to a live audience and then voted on by both the audience and our panel of local industry judges. The winner from each round advances to the Finals in each city to compete for the title of best designer in their city."
