The University of Memphis Art Museum is hosting a wearable art fashion show contest for students to participate in.
This will be the first fashion show the Art Museum has done, since this is the first semester fashion design fell underneath the art department.
But what exactly is wearable art? It is an art piece, but designed to be worn on the human body. The assistant director of the Museum, Kristy Griffin, came up with the idea of a fashion show after working for a small historical society in southeast Alaska – where the winters are wet and cold – and the Alaskans have to find ways to entertain themselves.
“It just so happens in southeast Alaska, there’s a really strong tradition of using that time to make these incredible works of wearable art,” Griffin said. “And when things finally get nice in March, they do this whole fashion show for the community.”
Wearable art is also very popular in New Zealand, where every year they hold a fashion show. According to Griffin, the event is a great way to welcome fashion design into the art department and allow them to showcase their work.
For this show, students can work alone or in groups up to three. Students wanting to enter need to submit a sketch of their design here: https://amumwearableartdesigncompetition2022.artcall.org.
The top 20 designs will be selected by special guest juror, fashion and pop culture designer Michael Ngo. Ngo is known for making designs for celebrities like Ariana Grande, Lil Nas X, Doja Cat and more.
The top designs will be announced on Feb. 23 and those contents will receive $200 to bring their designs to life. The runway show will be on April 9, followed by the designs being put on exhibit until September.
This contest is open for all majors.
“Just explore wearable art,” Griffin said. “You don’t have to be a fashion designer, you don’t even have to be terribly good at sewing, you just have to have a strong concept in some way to stick it together.”
The deadline to submit a design has been extended to Feb 16 due to recent weather.
The University of Memphis Art Museum. Wearable art in the United States started in the late 1960’s and has steadily grown in popularity since.
