As we look toward our Fashion Challenge: Reimagined event, we're taking you behind the scenes to meet each of our 2020 designers. Learn about the inspiration behind the unique looks that will be revealed in our virtual runway experience on June 18th!

We have some amazing designers joining the Fashion Challenge: Reimagined. Each one brings their own style and take to the runway. Hear from the first four of our emerging designers on their inspiration to participate in this year’s competition:

Taylor Graves is a Visual Merchandiser at Club Monaco and runs her own blog, Capitol F. She is a new designer this year and is looking forward to team up with the Artisan Collective. “Nothing will be as rewarding as this collaborative event. That’s what I’m looking forward to most – it being a collaboration.”

Graves makes a point of wanting to help every young woman flourish. “Women helping women survive and build a deserving life is what every community needs, especially the refugee women. No matter where she comes from or what she’s gone through, every woman deserves a healing space and the resources to reach her fullest potential. That’s what RefuSHE and the Fashion Challenge are doing for me.”

Lagi Nadeau, founder of NADEAU Fashion, is a veteran Fashion Challenge designer, having participated in the competition since 2014. She shared her motivation for joining the event each year. “I’m really excited to have the opportunity to work with such beautiful fabrics, textiles that are designed and hand-dyed by the Artisan Collective. Fabrics inspire me as a designer. To work with gorgeous patterns and colors is a treat, and to help showcase their fabrications through fashion is an honor.”

Nadeau was able to see firsthand the work that we do in Kenya. “I feel grateful and fortunate to have been able to travel to Nairobi and meet the young women at RefuSHE as we collaborated on a jewelry collection. The women that I met inspired me by their creativity, entrepreneurship skills, and the strength, support, and respect that they show each other.”

Amy Fenderson, the independent clothing designer behind Amy Marie Couture, was one of the designers in our inaugural 2011 Fashion Challenge cohort. “I can’t say enough about what a great time I had when I participated [previously]! I love creating, designing, and sewing, and the Fashion Challenge gave me the opportunity to do what I love most to benefit a great cause.”

Fenderson describes her consciousness of the challenges that girls at RefuSHE have faced. “Their experiences speak for themselves. I cannot personally understand what that must be like, as I have no experience with that type of hardship. But as a woman, I try my best to empathize with the type of discrimination and prejudices they might’ve had to face along their journey and offer my support.”

Xochil Herrera Scheer, the apparel engineer of Chicago Pattern Maker, is a new designer this year. She works in material sourcing, production management, pattern making, and technical design. “I saw the previous Fashion Challenge and was inspired both by the fabrics created by the artisans and by the mission and story behind the organization.”

Xochil is excited to see all of the final looks created by fellow designers. “I’m really looking forward to seeing the beautiful fabrics and the looks created,” she shares. “I think empowering young girls and women through creating meaningful work is an important way to drive change and give these women the economic freedom to pursue their dreams. Stay tuned for more updates and designer introductions to come, and RSVP to Fashion Challenge: Reimagined today!

Meet the Fashion Challenge Designers: Part I

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