Hey there! I have some fun news for me :) A few months back I applied for the 2nd annual Belk Southern Designer Competition... and then was selected to be a finalist!! Now I'm getting ready to present myself & designs in front of their panel, which sounds alarmingly like our crits at RISD, so I'm having some slight panic attacks/excited attacks on and off. Really, I have no idea what to expect and that's the scariest part. I've been watching a bunch of "Shark Tanks" though so maybe that will help?
I wasn't sure how many folks applied, but it looks like over 300!! That makes me feel special, and who doesn't like to feel special? I'll keep the blog posted, but please wish me luck in your preferred method, I'd really appreciate it!!!
Here's the press release below:
Charlotte, N.C., May 1, 2013 – For the second year in a row, Belk has issued a call for entries from talented, emerging designers and has selected 31 finalists to compete for the opportunity to have their collections sold in select Belk stores and on belk.com. Out of the nearly 300 designer applicants, the finalists listed below will travel to Belk headquarters in Charlotte, N.C. on May 22 to present their collections to a panel of Belk judges in hopes of becoming Belk vendor partners.
“After the amazing success of last year’s Southern Designer Showcase we really felt like we needed to bring the competition back for a second year to continue showcasing talented southern designers,” said Arlene Goldstein, vice president of trend merchandising and fashion direction for Belk. “This group of finalists is so diverse yet they all capture the essence of Belk and the ‘Modern. Southern. Style.’ of our customers.”
In 2012, 15 winners were selected in the inaugural Southern Designer Showcase competition. Collections from these designers are currently available in select Belk stores and on belk.com.
A select number of the 31 designers who will present their collections will be crowned Southern Designer Showcase winners and will have their designs available in Belk stores and on belk.com in 2014. The winning designers will be notified and announced to the public during a special celebration at Belk Headquarters on June 12, 2013.
Finalists
Kari Bryde Little Rock, Ark.
Rhonda Wyman Union Mills, N.C.
Jill Johnson Vacaville, Calif.
Lori Cunningham New York, N.Y.
Emily Elizabeth Scott Wilmington, Del.
Emily Papuga Charleston, S.C.
Jessica Fulks Atlanta, Ga.
Anne Hughes Charleston, S.C.
Stuart McClean Atlanta, Ga.
Annabelle LaRoque Columbia, S.C.
Ali Howell Atlanta, Ga.
Heather Menzie Gressette Columbia, S.C.
Sheree Crumpton Fairburn, Ga.
Marie Rhodes Starr, S.C.
Maria Harper Jonesboro, Ga.
Julia Davidson Summerville, S.C.
Charlene Dunbar Lilburn, Ga.
Andrea Young Woodruff, S.C.
Darrius Curry Lithonia, Ga.
Orean Collier Chattanooga, Tn.
Chiarra Joseph Valdosta, Ga.
Diane Wallace Knoxville, Tn.
Ashley Anderson Jackson, Ms.
Heidi Murphy Sevierville, Tn.
Perla Segovia Atkinson, N.C.
Hanh-Lucy Dang Dallas, Tx.
Bradley Rhyne Charlotte, N.C.
Dora Yim Richardson, Tx.
Tsvetelina McAuliffe Concord, N.C.
Regina White Chesterfield, Va.
Chantrelle (Elle) Parkinson-Cue Raleigh, N.C.
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kristin
July 28, 2013
congrats!!! that is awesome! i guess i’m a little late reading this, but how did it go?