NOLA Fashion Week Top Design Competition

New Orleans Fashion Week celebrated its 8th season this past March with a series of Fashion Shows, industry networking opportunities, vendor shopping, and a Fashion Career Day. One of the highlights of the week- long event was the Top Design Competition, where 10 up-and-coming young designers vied for the opportunity to kick start their career and be named as New Orleans Fashion Week’s Top Emerging Designer.


The Top Design Competition took place at the historical Monastery and featured presentations from Alexandra Bujan, Candis Cullison, Jada Hunter, Jeanne Benton, Courtney Childs, Jarithza Carlson, Nadine Hancock, Victora Henley, Jacob Burkett, and Amaya Cannon (winner of Yelp’s People’s Choice Award).

This year’s winner was Jacob Burkett – a senior Apparel Design student at Mississippi State. Jacob’s goal is to create clothing that will enhance the female figure and boost confidence and self-love.

For his New Orleans’ Fashion Week debut Jacob created a 10 piece collection of cutting edge outfits inspired by Korean street style and music.

Narrative by Nikki Neil
Photos courtesy of New Orleans Fashion Week