Reinvention High School Fashion Challenge
Take something forgotten or ordinary and turn it into something new and extraordinary.
What can an old bed sheet become? A shower curtain? A stack of grocery bags?
How can you turn the familiar into the unexpected?
Use your imagination to turn materials that weren’t meant for clothing into innovative, wearable art. Think beyond fabric! Rummage through what’s around you and reimagine it with fresh purpose.
About the Challenge
Reinvention is open to all Chicagoland high school students who are ready to explore design, sustainability, and creative problem-solving. This competition celebrates the power of transformation, encouraging students to push creative boundaries, experiment with materials, and tell visual stories through fashion.
Questions? Join us for a virtual info session at 4:30pm on January 30 - register here.
How It Works
Create a wearable look inspired by the theme using found, recycled, or repurposed materials—anything from discarded textiles to unconventional objects. Works in progress (sketches, concepts, early designs) are welcome, too!
- Sewing is preferred, not required, but your design must stay connected and fit a size 6 dress form for presentation.
- Photograph and document your process and final piece for submission.
- Submit your entry online through our application portal by February 10, 2026.
Judging Criteria
Entries will be evaluated on:
- Creativity and originality
- Interpretation of the theme
- Craftsmanship and construction
- Presentation and visual storytelling
Top finalists will be invited to present their designs in person at Columbia College Chicago during the final judging event in on March 13.
Who Can Enter
- Open to all high school students in the Chicagoland area
- No prior fashion experience required—just curiosity, imagination, and a willingness to explore
How to Apply
- Complete the online application form
- Upload 3–5 photos of your design
- Include a short description (250 words max) explaining your materials, process, and inspiration
Important Dates
- Application Opens: November 15, 2025
- Virtual Info Session: January 30, 2026, 4:30pm - REGISTER HERE
- Submission Deadline: February 10, 2026
- Finalist Notification: March 2026
- In-Person Showcase and Judging Event: March 13, 2026, 5 p.m.
Prizes and Recognition
The top 10 finalists will receive scholarships and gift cards, and their designs will be featured in Columbia College Chicago’s 618 S. Michigan Ave. display windows—giving students the chance to share their work with the Chicago community.
Recognition Categories
- Most Innovative Use of Materials – Honors the most creative or unexpected transformation of repurposed items.
- Best Concept and Storytelling – Recognizes a design that best communicates the theme or a personal narrative.
- Excellence in Sustainability – Celebrates a design that minimizes waste, reuses materials thoughtfully, or promotes environmental awareness.
- Outstanding Construction and Craftsmanship – Rewards exceptional technical skill and execution using limited resources.
- Future Vision Award – Highlights a design with strong potential for innovation in fashion, inclusivity, or digital design.
Participants will also gain:
- Mentorship opportunities with Columbia faculty and industry professionals
- Recognition across Columbia’s official publications and social media channels
- An invitation to the in-person showcase and awards ceremony on campus
Ready to Reinvent Fashion?
Enter now and be part of a new generation of designers redefining fashion.
Friday, March 13, 2026, 5 p.m.
In-person showcase and final judging event
Columbia College Chicago, 618 S. Michigan Ave.
Questions? Contact Reyes Witt, rwitt@colum.edu
