The Stitch New Orleans Competition

Witness The Return of NOFW's Top Design Competition Presented By Tampa Bay Fashion Experience

New Orleans Fashion Week (NOFW) proudly announces the return and reimagining of its acclaimed Top Design Competition as The Stitch New Orleans, presented by Tampa Bay Fashion Experience (TBFE), a premier fashion development event dedicated to discovering, developing, and elevating fashion design talent.

Through The Stitch New Orleans, emerging creatives will gain unprecedented access to industry professionals, national exposure, and career-defining opportunities designed to accelerate their growth within the fashion industry.

As part of the competition, two designers will be selected as semi-finalists and invited to attend the Christian Siriano Fashion Design Boot Camp in New York City, an immersive industry experience designed to sharpen creative vision, refine technical skills, and provide firsthand exposure to the realities of the fashion business at the highest level.

Following the boot camp, both designers will return to New Orleans to present their collections in a highly anticipated Final Runway Showdown in January 2027.

At the conclusion of the competition, one designer will be crowned The Stitch New Orleans Winner 2026 and awarded an exclusive prize package, including the opportunity to showcase their collection at NYFW Art Hearts Show in February 2027.