fashionably petite: Tenth Anniversary of Supima Design Competition SS18 Runway Show

I'm finally catching up on my New York Fashion Week posts, starting with my first show this season - Supima at Pier 59. You'll notice I was barely backstage this season, not that I was slacking off on shows, I was forced to do less since New York Home Fashions overlapped with New York Fashion Week. The Supima show was a great way to kickoff fashion week, since this season marked the Tenth Anniversary of Supima Design Competition, hosted by June Ambrose. Every year the competition gives young designers the opportunity to showcase their work while highlighting unique qualities of Supima.

This year's seven finalists in the Supima Design Competition included Lela Thompson, Drexel University, Nancy Hennessey, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Abigail Griswold, Rhode Island School of Design, Margaret Kwon, Parsons School of Design, Alyssa Wardrop, Fashion Institute of Technology, Sarah Johnson, Kent State University, and Alexandra Pijut, Savannah College of Art and Design.

Lela Thompson's collection was inspired by Persephone, goddess of the underworld, with laser cut appliques, including a gorgeous red dress and full length dress in teal with a high neck and slit, covered in laser cut flounces.

Nancy Hennessey's Collection chronicles the "Timelapse of a Rose in the Darkness" exploring structure and sculpt of the rose, including a cocktail dress in black to pink ombre.

Abigail Griswold's collection includes dresses with neoprene piecing, slouchy jumpsuit and a cobalt parka coat.

Margaret Kwon's collection is an exploration into art, place, color, form, design and aura including a velveteen corset gown in bright pink with a paillette placket, a bright pink duster coat with Swarovski crystal stripes and red paillettes, and a gorgeous gown in lapis blue with red Swarovski stripes and red paillettes.

Alyssa Wardrop's collection was inspired by the artistry of the filmmaker, involving dresses with hand painting.

Sarah Johnson pulls her collection inspirations from the far East, featuring a velveteen cartridge-pleated top in aqua with rope halter and pleat-gront aqua culottes.

Alexandra Pijut's collection "Conscious vs. Subconscious," dives into the otherworldly with screen printed dresses in chartreuse/tanzanite glen plaid and tartan, lavender hounds tooth, purple tartan, and a jumpsuit in lilac/raspberry tartan.

At the end of the runway show, Alyssa Wardrop was announced as the winner of the Supima Design Competition. As the winner, Wardrop receives an award of $10,000.