Established in 2010, the Fashion Forward Student Design Competition was created to recognize student fashion designers of African descent who have distinguished themselves through their academic achievement, talent, creativity, and innovative approach.
The Fashion Forward Mentorship & Competition expands NBAF’s mission to advance the work and visibility of Black creatives. Designed to support the next generation of creative leaders in the fashion design space, the Mentorship program gives student designers access to expert-led sessions focused on design development, technical skills, brand storytelling, portfolio building, and professional preparation, all led by accomplished designers, stylists, educators, and industry leaders who provide the structured support needed to strengthen their creative practice and competitive edge.
One honoree will be selected by a distinguished panel of judges and receive a $1,500 cash prize, be presented at NBAF’s Fine Art + Fashion Event on April 29, 2026 and be showcased in the Neiman Marcus Atlanta store. The individual selected to receive the Fashion Forward award would have excelled academically, mastered their particular fields of study, and is recognized as a dynamic emerging talent who possess leadership qualities in their personal life and professional aspirations.
NBAF accepts applications from students of African descent who are:
Montanna Dupree is a senior of Clark Atlanta University, where she is earning her BA in Fashion Design and Merchandising. Her work centers on fashion design, creative direction, styling, and brand storytelling. Dupree is currently expanding beyond her comfort zone, exploring new fashion markets and visual languages while continuing to use design as a form of self-expression.
The Fashion Forward Mentorship provides emerging designers with expert-led training in design development, technical craft, brand storytelling, and professional readiness. Students will attend one full day of workshops, gaining hands-on guidance from designers, stylists, educators, and industry leaders.
In order to be eligible for the Competition, students must participate in the Mentorship program by attending at least one (1) full day of workshops. Workshop dates are as follows:
Sunday, January 25, 2026
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Four Seasons Hotel
Sunday, February 1, 2026
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Four Seasons Hotel
Workshop #1 — Foundations: Attitude, Planning & Inspiration
Led by Earnest & Charlene Crusoe-Ingram
Build a resilient creative mindset through sessions on attitude, strategic planning, identity-driven inspiration, communication, and styling as a narrative tool.
Workshop #2 — Designing for Impact: Identity, Concept & Craft
Led by Zayden Skipper
Develop strong concepts through mood boards, silhouette and cohesion work, material exploration, and collaborative design feedback.
Workshop #3 — Professional Presentation: Illustration, Branding & Pitching
Led by Jeremiah James, D’Won Fields & Rebecca Brodnan
Strengthen presentation skills with lookbook development, personal branding, pricing, and a mock pitch session designed to sharpen professional communication.
The Competition serves as the culminating opportunity for students to apply what they’ve learned. Together, the mentorship and competition create a pathway that nurtures emerging designers from early development to public recognition.
The Fashion Forward Competition requires an application package which should include the following. Once completed, email the application to Page Yang, pyang@nbaf.org.
Once an application has been reviewed and meets all the requirements, the applicant will be contacted to schedule an in-person interview to present their garment.
January 25, 2026 - Mentorship Session 1
February 1, 2026 - Mentorship Session 2
March 1, 2026 - Competition Applications Due
March 8, 2026 - Chosen applicants receive email to schedule in-person interview for the following week
April 19, 2026 - Interviews and final judging
April 20, 2026 - Announcement of winner
April 29, 2026 - Presentation at Fine Art + Fashion
Yemisi Sanni is a senior at Savannah College of Art and Design, studying Fashion Design, Marketing & Management. Her cross-cultural experiences as a transplant from Lagos, Nigeria has inspired many of her fashion ventures and aesthetics. Sanni is driven to collaborate with others in connecting cultures and using fashion as a tool to shape a more creative, sustainable, and inclusive future. She is currently the Designer/Style Artist for Stylenspire, a fashion brand offering a mix of Chic and Afro-Contemporary clothing for women, with a focus on delivering quality and uniqueness.
