PARAISO UPCYCLE CHALLENGE PRESENTATION 2021

2nd Annual Event Focused on Young Talent, Sustainability and Mentorship MENTORS: NORMAILLOT, CHARLIE HOLIDAY, AGUA BENDITA, PERRY ELLIS, AND CHROMAT The PARAISO UpCycle Challenge: Teaching The Future Following the success of the inaugural edition, the PARAISO UpCycle Challenge is back for a second chapter. Created to raise awareness on fashion sustainability by UpCycling dead-stock fabrics from international swimwear designers, this year – the message is louder and clearer. The PARAISO Upcycle Challenge aims to teach design students that the purpose of their garments can go beyond the aesthetic and involve the wellbeing of the people and the planet. The national competition invites design students to create two pieces from donated dead-stock fabrics, for the opportunity to present at PARAISO, and win designer mentorships. The Application process consists of three rounds and only five students make to the third round to determine the winner. “By collaborating with UpCycled Project to create PARAISO UpCycle Challenge we further our commitment to sustainability, using fashion to transform lives and create a more conscious future. Each year, I look forward to seeing how students, respond to being matched and mentored by some of the leading swimwear and resort wear designers. Through this mentorship program and contest, we encourage creative thinking and transformative solutions integral to a new way of working,” says co-founder and creative director of PARAISO Natalija Dedic Stojanovic. 2019 PARAISO UPCYCLE CHALLENGE WINNER: F.I.T. student HANNAH MYERS