Meet This Year's Supima Design Competition Finalists

Emma Joan Foley (Parsons School of Design)

Originally from Minneapolis, Emma Joan Foley is inspired by her mother’s career in shoe design and a lifelong passion for art. She had early exposure to college-level design courses and internships at Carolina Herrera and Proenza Schouler, as well as furthering her education with programs at Parsons Paris and Central Saint Martins. Her design approach emphasizes fabric manipulation and integration of 2D and 3D techniques, frequently incorporating cotton textiles, particularly denim, for their versatility and structural qualities. Having already gotten the attention from publications like PAPER, her Supima capsule collection explores the interplay between perceived and physical forms, drawing inspiration from body schema and the theoretical grotesque. Foley aspires to become a creative director at a luxury fashion house, balancing art and functionality. In her free time, Emma follows F1 Racing and enjoys swimming, a sport she once pursued competitively.

Jules Gourley (School of the Art Institute of Chicago)

Jules Gourley is from Lafayette, Indiana, and has a background as a Hospital Corpsman in the US Navy, which lends to a unique approach in their designs. Their work often features structured woven fabrics and leather, focusing on themes of transformation and self-actualization, and has gained recognition with a CFDA scholarship and first place at the Driehaus Fashion Awards. For their Supima collection, Gourley highlights anatomical forms and explores the body’s metamorphosis, influenced by brutalist sensibilities. With a dream to establish a small atelier, Jules aims to create bespoke, high-quality garments that resonate with their community. In addition to fashion, Jules enjoys tea, coffee, games and exploring innovative pattern-making techniques.

Henry Hawk (Rhode Island School of Design)

Growing up in Boulder, Colorado, Henry Hawk’s journey into fashion began with a love for drawing and art, evolving into a passion for screen printing and creating clothes during high school. In school, Henry honed his skills in tailoring, knitting and the history of denim, for which he has a particular deep appreciation. His fascination with vintage fashion and sustainable design has led to accolades such as winning the 2023 Project Upcycle competition. Henry’s design process is research-intensive, drawing inspiration from historical workwear and bespoke tailoring techniques, which he integrated into his Supima capsule collection, “Patent Era Workwear meets Evening Dress.” Hawk’s designs have also been showcased at various events, including Boston Fashion Week, where he spoke on sustainable fashion. His ultimate goal is to have his own brand.

Marina Lamphier (Drexel University)

Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, Marina’s interest in fashion was solidified during the COVID-19 quarantine when she realized the significance of self-expression through daily outfits. Through her fashion design courses and her school’s internship and co-op program, she was able to hone in on her skills and get real-world industry experience. Her designs often begin with cotton, a fabric she frequently uses for its versatility and comfort, and her design philosophy centers on meaningful creation, always starting with a clear purpose for each collection. For the competition, Lamphier was inspired by the metaphor of sailing, blending structural elements from the Golden Age of Sail with contemporary maritime aesthetics, aiming to revive femininity in the sport of sailing through bold graphics. She has dreams of running an outdoor performance activewear brand.

Mina Piao (Fashion Institute of Technology)

Mina Piao, an accomplished graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, has a focused expertise in knitwear. Knitwear designer Mina Piao’s fashion journey began as early as a five year old on Long Island when she would dictate seasonal colors to her mom. Educational experiences, including a study abroad program at Central Saint Martins, provided her with diverse skills in sewing, draping, patternmaking and textile science. Her capsule collection for Supima explores the contrasts between safety and vulnerability, inspired by her grandmother’s immigrant journey and her own mental health struggles, while highlighting community support systems, through intricate knitwear and layered textiles that symbolize resilience and interconnectedness. By challenging narratives and inspiring empathy and responsibility towards vulnerable communities, Piao aims to use fashion as a vehicle for change.

Lizzy Truitt (Kent State University)

Lizzy Truitt has a deep-rooted connection to cotton, stemming from her family’s cotton farm in Alabama, to now learning about its role and impact in the industry. In fact, when she presented her BFA thesis collection at Kent State’s annual fashion show, the entire collection was made out of cotton in hopes of pushing its use more within the industry. Her journey into fashion began in middle school, inspired by a career placement test and her mother and grandmother’s sewing lessons. Her capsule collection, “Life Lines” explores the intersection of girlhood and womanhood, drawing inspiration from the women in her life and their influence on her identity, characterized by feminine and romantic element like quilts and bows, and incorporating line art and quilting to symbolize the passage of time and the complexity of womanhood. Truitt’s ultimate goal is to be a constantly evolving designer, by challenging herself and entering new spaces, and to be a source of positivity and creativity.

This article is a sponsored collaboration between PAPER and Supima.