Winner Gallery

Ryan B.
Tux Grand Prize

Runways were my main inspiration. The 2 in 1 look and wings were inspired from various high fashion looks I have seen. The rest of it came from my mind. I had the idea of an angel and devil then kept going. The colours represent darkess, peace, the redness of blood that every person has, and richness of life (black, white, red, and bronze/gold respectively). The piece shows that every person bleeds the same blood and is capable of goodness, regardless of preconceived notions. I wanted to show the complexity and high fashion that can be achieved using Duck Tape. I even made moving wings with tape and paper. I tried to use the tape in unique ways and create a suit that has never been seen before. Thank you for taking the time to look at my suit!

27 Rolls

160 Hours

Erika A.
Dress Runner Up

When I first started my inspiration was the white academia aesthetic. I pictured this dress being worn in a big architectural baroque castle ballroom dancing to classical music, like the ones you see in Rome and Greece. Originally the dress was fully white, but I was also inspired in doing a black-on-white clash. I was inspired by the style and colors that you would find in ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt. A big part of the dress’s inspiration was the colors of ancient Egypt like gold, white, black, and turquoise/blue. Once I realized that a lot of the colors I was already using were similar to those of the evil eye I knew I had to add it in. The evil eye can symbolize multiple means depending on what cultures you ask. Some may say that it attracts evil spirits, others say that it can cast a malevolent gaze back upon those who wish you harm. I was inspired by both, but I would like that my dress reflects a malevolent gaze upon those who wish harm on me.

17 Rolls

143 Hours

Aaron L.
Tux Runner Up

I was inspired by the human body and its complexities. I am thinking about becoming a Nurse Practitioner so if I win this would be a great help to pay for my tuition. One of the thoughts that was going through my head was that I want to make something no one has ever seen before. I wanted to make a statement and let others know what I truly am made of.

12 Rolls

80 Hours

Meihuan Yu
Dress Runner Up

“The stitches done by a nimble hand

Colours built upon the history of my home land

Threads carrying a language that I long to know

I’m crafting my future

I’m wearing my home - Meihuan Yu”

I still remember the feeling of absolute sadness when my 8th-grade graduation got canceled. It wasn't the fact that I had to miss out on awards or socializing that made me feel heavy-hearted, but it was because I couldn't wear the very dress I spent 3 long months designing and hand sewing. Never would I have thought, during these long days spent indoors, that I would get another chance…….to make a very important dress.

Stuck at home and infinitely dreaming of travel, I realized that delving into the art of my own culture can provide the same feeling of exploration. Looking within Chinese culture, I was in awe and fascinated by the complexity of Chinese performing arts, especially a type of opera from Beijing called “jing ju”. Complete with brave masked warriors and powerful animals, I knew that a message of courage can be conveyed perfectly. With a pencil and my sketchbook, I started a process of visualizing courage.

32 Rolls

186 Hours

Casey A.
Tux Runner Up

My inspiration for my tuxedo was my home state of Iowa. I was born and raised in Iowa, and have much pride in that. Farming and agriculture is very big in Iowa therefore most of my inspiration came from that. The right leg having corn stalks, and the left arm having that classic red silo. Iowa is the number one producer in corn. Then the left side of the jacket and left pant leg is those classic farmer overalls, with a cowboy boot at the bottom and a flannel at the top. However Iowa is more than just farming, we also have some great creativity sprout from Iowa, like Grant Wood. I recreated his famous painting "American Gothic" on the back of the suit. Lastly, I added our states flag, because I love when I see an Iowan flag flying in the wind.

15 Rolls

80 Hours

Zoe T.
Tux Runner Up

What do you think the most beautiful creature in the world is? To me, it’s peacocks, my inspiration for my outfit. Ever since I was little, I’ve always loved and admired birds because they’re so freeing. They’re able to simply take to the air when they please with such agility and elegance that many people even envy the creatures. Personally, I was even blinded by the world’s view of their material worth. It wasn’t until today when I got to meet them first hand that I fully appreciated how amazing peacocks really are. They’ve been targeted and hunted for their beauty for so long, their population is shrinking to the degree that they’re now endangered. That I could work with actual peacocks on this project and earn some of their trust was a truly amazing experience. However, it’s one experience future generations might not be able to discover. Loretta Lynch once said, “We all have a responsibility to protect endangered species, both for their sake and for the sake of our own future generations.” My tux aims to show there are other ways to capture their beauty so that it’s safe for everyone.

21 Rolls

65 Hours

Zaineb A.
Dress Runner Up

For this dress, I wanted to create something that represents my culture and history. I am a Middle Eastern Muslim woman and I wanted this dress to showcase the beauty and extravagance of that part of the world. Over the past few decades, there has been so much misunderstanding and hate towards the Arab world and I want to take the attention off of that and bring people’s eyes to the art and beauty of my people. If there is one thing all human beings have in common, it would be our creativity and art. Wherever you go, you will find unique and beautiful examples of architecture, fashion, and cuisine. For this dress, I specifically chose to portray architecture and fashion. The mosque in the front of the dress was inspired by the Sheikh Zayed mosque located in Abu Dhabi. It is one of the most beautiful mosques in the world and it truly speaks to the beauty of Middle Eastern architecture. Creating the mosque was the most difficult and time-consuming aspect of creating this dress because I had to cut out every little piece and stick it onto the dress to make a perfect illusion of shadows and highlights. It is even more difficult to take photos because every little glare ruins the beauty of the piece. For the stars and patterns on the top layer of the dress and chest piece, I wanted to specifically represent architectural patterns you would normally find on the inside of mosques and Middle Eastern buildings. These designs consist of intricate detail and color, although most of the time the colors used are blue and gold. These patterns and designs can also be found in books, clothes, and everyday objects. The star design I specifically chose was also based on the Islamic star. I wanted a design that fit hand in hand with the mosque but that also offered a little simplicity for contrast. Lastly, for the headpiece, I was inspired by ancient Middle Eastern and Egyptian fashion. I wanted to create something that suited my hijab and the aesthetic of the dress. It was very difficult to create something that did both and it honestly happened by chance. I picked up an unused sheet of tape and began shaping it onto my head. I kept playing with it until I came to this shape and thankfully I was able to create something beautiful! Creating this dress was a huge challenge but I am very proud that I was able to create something that represents myself and my culture. Additionally creating this has allowed me to broaden my artistic abilities as I continue my love for creativity into art school this fall. I am so excited to create more things like this in my future because I know this is only the beginning for me!

34 Rolls

152 Hours

Giles F.
Dress Runner Up

I decided to create a dress inspired by the spray painted Robert E. Lee Statue on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia. The monument embodies the clash of old ways and new ideas, so I embraced these conflicts in the design of my dress. The hoop skirt and corset style bodice are reminiscent of the antebellum era, while the brilliant colors of the graffiti on the skirt represent the modern era. The past and present merge in the front of the dress, but the back is left empty for the future generations. The chain motif on the bodice and the padlock necklace represent slavery and the continued suppression of people of color.

17 Rolls

84 Hours

Vaughn W.
Tux Runner Up

After spending the last 14 months learning online, my tuxedo is inspired by the technology that’s kept us all connected during the pandemic.

I’m studying Computer Science in the fall at Michigan Technological University. I incorporated a pixelated version of their mascot, the husky, on the back of my jacket.

Since prom was canceled this year, my tuxedo includes a virtual reality headset made of tape as well to virtually attend!

18 Rolls

46 Hours