For the second time in three years, Glen Raven Custom Fabrics and Sunbury Textile Mills have joined forces in the search for the next generation of talent in textile design. Hosting a competition with the textile- design program at Philadelphia University, the two companies asked students to imagine the future of Sunbrella® fabrics, answering this question: What’s next?

Tracy Greene, style/design manager at Glen Raven, says, “What’s great about this partnership with Sunbury and the university is that we are exposed to a group of students who have completely different perspectives. It’s interesting to see a new take on our materials where students are allowed to weave and finish textiles, creating art, rather than designing for a specific commercial market. We are here to help educate the students, but really, they are educating and inspiring us.”

The competition, launched in 2014, quickly proved to be a way for Glen Raven to interact with prospective employees. Emily Weiss, who took second place in the inaugural textile-design competition, became an intern with Glen Raven and was hired for the design team.

“It’s such a cool experience, being on the other side of the table this time,” Weiss says. “I know from my experience how much work goes into this project, and it has most certainly paid off for me. I’m so glad to be part of the Sunbrella design team, and couldn’t have imagined back then where I’d be now. My best advice to students would be to step out of your comfort zone and put yourself out there.” In this year’s competition, graduate student Samantha Fletcher was awarded first place, in a unanimous decision, for her innovative, limit-pushing approach, which featured melted PVC yarn.

Fletcher, whose design (reminiscent of lace) was based on the concept of collective memories, says, “My process is to play with the materials, push the limits of the yarn, and change it in a unique way. It’s gratifying to win first place in this competition because this is the type of work I love doing.”

Judges from the industry included Greene; Andy Kahnke, director of trade and retail sales for Dedon Inc.; Liora Manne, designer and owner of Lamontage/Liora Manne; Kathy Remsa, senior designer at Sunbury; and Patricia Hoffman, manager for corporate and e-commerce web initiatives for Thibaut. The students’ designs were judged on color, pattern, appropriate scale, creative materials, appropriate hand, technical execution, appropriate end use, originality, and innovation.