The Eastman Naia Design Challenge with O’More college may be over but we are loving the final results and thought you would love to see them too!

Now that the Eastman Naia challenge has concluded, the students look back at their design process and discuss with what role Naia had in shaping their design. They also walk us through what they would have changed now that they understand the material better than when they first started.

Natasha Andrews

The Eastman Naia Design Challenge has concluded and Sarah Stevenson, a sophomore from Colorado Springs, CO., was selected as the winner. With the win, Stevenson takes home a $2,500 scholarship toward her 2018-19 tuition. She prevailed over 12 other sophomore and junior fashion design students. Morgan Stengel, a junior from Brentwood, Tenn., was the runner up.

Finishing touches are being made, and seams and zippers will soon be sewn into the gowns made with at least 75% Eastman Naia™ cellulosic yarn. The design students at O’More College have an incredible heart and mind for design, that is for certain.

The Eastman Naia design challenge has returned! This marks the second year that Franklin’s O’More College of Design has collaborated with Kingsport-based Eastman to use Naia, the versatile cellulosic yarn made from wood pulp and derived exclusively from sustainably managed and certified forests. In the Eastman Naia Challenge, students in O’More’s Fashion program will create garments using fabric composed of Naia.

During Spring Break, O’More College of Design students are making the most of their time with the Naia™ from Eastman fabric.

To celebrate the launch of Eastman’s newest material, Eastman Naia™ cellulosic yarn, we’ve partnered with O’More College of Design to challenge their fashion students to design and construct evening gowns with Naia.