Lianna DeLuna and Kailey Itri win titles for their original designs
Lianna DeLuna is a senior in the Apparel Design and Manufacturing (ADM) program. During her junior year, DeLuna competed in the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists Concept 2 Consumer (C2C) Design Competition. Under the mentorship of Dr. Mahendran Balasubramanian, DeLuna received second place for her designs.
“This international competition, known for its rigor and redefining the boundaries of creativity and innovation in textile design, saw a remarkable entry from this student, who combined technical skill with a keen sense of modern fashion trends,” Balasubramanian said.
DeLuna was able to design a collection of three sustainable resort wear looks using Adobe Creative Suite platform. This second place win highlights DeLuna’s design skills and her ability to spot the trends.
Kailey Itri graduated from the ADM program in August of 2024. During her senior year, Itri entered the Cotton Forward: 3D Fashion Design Challenge. Under Balasubramanian’s mentorship, Itri received third place.
“This competition is distinct for its focus on the potential of cotton in digital fashion,” Balasubramanian said. “The student's entry demonstrated a profound understanding of both digital design and the versatility of cotton, merging traditional textile principles with cutting-edge technology.”
For this competition, Itri designed three complete looks primarily using CLO3D® merging innovation, current trends, and her own personal design style.
Balasubramanian expressed pride in the students’ abilities to go above and beyond with their digital designs and sense of sustainability.
"They have shown an exceptional ability to blend creativity with technical proficiency, and their innovative approaches are commendable,” Balasubramanian said. “These accomplishments are a testament to their perseverance and passion for fashion design."