Project FUNDway

December 3: There's something about watching Project Runway and seeing designers compete to go to Bryant Park NYC, and in the DC metropolitan area, it must have been exciting to see the progression of the emerging designers in DC in Project FUNDway. The Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce (GWFCC) hosted the 1st annual Project FUNDway Fashion Design Competition at McKinley Technical High School in Washington DC. The three finalists, Adegbemisola Ademisoye, Michael Edwards, and Samuel Mintah competed for the top prize of a $5,000 scholarship to fashion design school. Proceeds from the event benefitted the DC Fashion Foundation.

The event was hosted by Kwab Asamoah of Kustom Looks Clothier and Nicole White, Ms. District of Columbia 2009. It was a special event in having DC Council members Harry Thomas Jr. and Michael Brown walking the runway as guest models . The lineup of judges were impressive: Linda Lee, VCU School of the Arts Fashion Design Teacher; Maurisa Potts, GWFCC Executive Board Member; Makeda Saggau-Sackey, The Glamazon Diaries; Angie Goff, WUSA 9 Anchor/Feature Correspodent; Jennifer Barger, Washington Post/Fashion Washington; Tashia Senn, Tashia Senn Collection Fashion Designer; Evelyn Brooks, Evelyn Brooks Designs Jewelry Designer; and Duke Ellington, Costume Designer Director of Duke Ellington School of Arts.

The show went exceedingly well and the models did an excellent job of showcasing the fashion designs of the finalists. In the end it was Adegbemisola Ademisoye who won the competition and she accepted the award with glee, and she will be able to use the scholarship to go to a fashion design college/university of her choice. Congratulations to all the designers and thank you to all the judges and the sponsors. Fashion in Washington DC is on the map. To view more photos from the show visit: http://vithaya.zenfolio.com/projectfundway09