The Soy in Textile Design Challenge
NEXTILE is a competition to expose fiber, textile and design students to the benefits of designing with soy-based products.
NEXTILE is for college-level students from participating schools to showcase their creative and problem-solving skills to increase the sustainability of textiles.
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.
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Announcing Winners of the 2023-2024 Nextile: Soy in Textiles Design Challenge
The following is a list of the National Level Winners and School Level Winners and Runners-Up
National Level Winner
Kasandra Wright
University of Arkansas
Moth Skirt
Soy elements used:
Soy French Terry
Soy Top Roving
Soy Silk Thread
BioTex Modern Meadows Soy Leather Natural Pigment With Soymilk Soak
Design: Maxi Skirt
Material: Soy Moth Fabric
National Level Runner-Up
Anna Stuffelbeam
North Carolina State University
Quilted Foliage Coat
Soy elements used:
Soy French Terry
Soy Top Roving
Soy Silk Thread
Design: Quilted Foliage Coat
Material: Soy dyed textile
School Level Winners and Runners-Up
(Alphabetical by School)
Kansas City Art Institute
Winner: Olivia Mills
Bespoke Soy Wool Scarf
Runner-Up: Madeline Farinas de Leon
Baby Shoes
North Carolina State University
Winner: Anna Stuffelbeam
Quilted Foliage Coat
Runner-Up: Alexa Karrenbauer
Natural Pigment Dyed Soy Rug
Pratt Institute
Winner: Siyi Liu & Xinyi Liang (Team)
Covers for Sofa and Chair
Runner-Up: Lizz Snyder & Ava Wilson (Team)
Textile Bag
Savannah College of Art & Design
Winner: Scott Grove
Restaurant Wall Hanging
Runner-Up: Phaedra Duhon
Embroidered and Wax Design Textile
University of Arkansas
Winner: Kasandra Wright
Moth Skirt
Runner-Up: Annalise Robins
Tapestry
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Winner: Maia Rauh & Lucy Weber (Team)
Multi-Use Textile for Sustainable Products
Runner-Up: Emma Stavenhagen
Soy Quilted Bedding Products
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
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