For More Information Contact:
Marie Lehfeldt, MIWW Coordinator (406) 636-2731, or levi@midrivers.com
Amy Trinidad (303) 771-3500, ext. 55, or amy@sheepusas.org
(Electronic photos available upon request)
Denver, Colo. - State-winning Make It With Wool (MIWW) contestants competed in the national finals and awards program in a fiesta-inspired style show during the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI)/National Lamb Feeders Association Annual Convention on Jan. 26. The designers taking top honors at the 65th annual national competition were Kylie Manville of Valley Falls, Kan., and Mallory Muntefering of Dimock, S.D.
Manville won the title of First Place Junior 2013 Wool Ambassador. Finding a need for more dressy clothes in her wardrobe, Manville used a creative combination of wool and mohair textures to construct a versatile burgundy and black wool coat. Her gabardine wrap-around suit jacket is detailed with curly mohair yarn that is needle-felted and appliqued to add interest and coordinate with a soft mohair boucle skirt. In addition to other prizes, Manville's winnings included a $1,000 scholarship from Pendleton Woolen Mills and a $500 scholarship from ASI Women. The junior division was open to youth ages 13 to 16.
Muntefering was selected as the First Place Senior 2013 Wool Ambassador by making a full-length front zipper and balloon-bottom cashmere coat with green, crushed velvet adorning the collar and sleeves. Her dress features a pleated center and is accented with a broach. Among other prizes, Muntefering's first-place winnings included a $1,500 scholarship from ASI Women. The senior division was open to contestants ages 17 to 24.
Brittany Lippy of Manchester, Md., and Jacob Worthington of Orem, Utah, won First Runner-Up Junior Division and Senior Division, respectively. Lippy made a semi-fitted, lined brown/blue tweed jacket and matching pants and vest in ivory and slate blue. Worthington made a light-weight brown heather suit consisting of a jacket with two single-welt lower pockets with flaps, a single vent and interior double-welt pockets and pants featuring front pleats and cuffs.
Charlene Colon from Fayetteville, N.C., was named the 2013 National MIWW Adult Winner with her three-piece ensemble inspired by Chanel Couture. The ensemble features three different textures and weight of wool. The jacket combines two separate patterns and features a keyhole neckline, two-piece sleeves, hidden front button placket closure, hidden zippered pockets, underarm cell phone wallet and sleeve vents. Her 100-percent smooth face, wool gabardine, fitted trousers feature a hand-picked fly front zipper. And the blouse has softly tailored details and machine embroidery scroll motifs with floral accents. As part of her winnings, Colon won an all-expense-paid trip to the national competition in San Antonio.
The winner of the Fashion/Apparel Design Award was Jo'se Reyes of Houston, Texas, a student of Houston Community College pursuing a fashion career. Reyes constructed a women's suit of wool and silk. The jacket and fitted pencil skirt are fully lined. Black silk insets give the wearer a fitted silhouette look. Some of the unique features include the bow closure with cascading tiers and slightly belled sleeves. The entire suit was pattern drafted and inspired by the 1950s craze of the fitted waist. Reyes' winnings include a $1,000 scholarship for his winning outfit from the American Wool Council and an all-expense-paid trip to the national competition.
A total of 59 junior and senior finalists representing 31 states and the New England region modeled their creations at the national competition. Contestants nationwide entered competitions at the state level and utilized more than 1,837 yards of wool fabric and more than 337 skeins of yarn to create their garments.
Other winners and their awards include:
Marie Lehfeldt of Lavina, Mont., coordinated the event for the seventeenth consecutive year. For more information about the MIWW competition, visit www.makeitwithwool.com.
ASI is a national organization supported by 46 state sheep associations, benefiting the interests of more than 81,000 sheep producers.
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