NEXTILE is for college-level students from participating schools to showcase their creative and problem-solving skills to increase the sustainability of textiles. 

This year’s Nextile Challenge will involve 15 – 20 colleges and universities. The Challenge will occur during the period of October 7 through November 26, 2024: the school-level competition runs between October 7 – 28; and the National-level competition School-level winners runs between November 12 – 26, 2024.

Each participating college or university can identify up to four (4) teams, with each team comprised of either a single student or multiple students.  The school-level of the competition involves a three (3) week “sprint” to develop and submit a textile sample utilizing soy-based products. The student-created textile uses could include fashion, accessories, furniture, décor, automotive, industrial, interior environment, exterior environment, fine art application, or a product.  At the beginning of the school-level competition period, each team will be supplied with a design kit containing soy-based products.

Students will compete for scholarship awards. School-level winners will be announced on November 11, 2024. Each school’s winning team will receive a $500.00 scholarship and be invited to participate in the National Level. Each school’s second team will receive $250.00 scholarship.

The nationally winning team or individual will receive a $1,000.000 scholarship.The national individual runner-up or team will receive a $500.00 scholarship. Official results of the National Level will be announced confidentially at the end of December with a public announcement and website released in mid-January 2025.

Inquiries

To learn more about the Nextile Challenge and to express interest in participating, please contact Jane Durkee, Executive Producer, at at 952-994-6259 or jdurkee@131epernaygroup.com.

About U.S. Soy

The Challenge is sponsored by U.S. Soy, whose goal is to maintain and expand domestic and international markets and uses for US produced soybeans and soybean products. U.S. Soy is farmer funded by a mandatory assessment of the net market price of soybeans. The research and promotion programs of U.S. Soy and the United Soybean Board are under the oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service. For additional information about U.S. Soy please visit https://www.unitedsoybean.org/.

Runner-Up: Emma Stavenhagen

Soy Quilted Bedding Products

For the 2023-24 inaugural challenge, students from the textile programs at six colleges and universities schools were invited to participate. Student teams from these institutions undertook an initial challenge to create an original fabric from soy-based materials and an original design for its use. Each team received a kit with a variety of soy-based materials that were incorporated into their fabrics.

The winning team from each school received a $500 scholarship and the runner-up received $250 scholarship.  School winners competed in a national competition, with the winning team winning a $1,000.00 scholarship and the runner-up receiving a $500 scholarship.

NEXTILE Judge Panel

Melissa Levander

Owner, Levander Designs
Los Angeles, California

Kathryn Phillips

Chief Curator, Springs Creative Products Group
Rock Hill, South Carolina

Carla Schultz

Soybean Farmer, United Soybean Board Director
Frankenmuth, Michigan

Jeff Smith

SVP & GM Biomaterials, Modern Meadow
Nutley, New Jersey