A Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) fashion student is being recognized with a TÉLIO Impact Award for demonstrating innovative and sustainable design practices.
Naiomi Chin, a fourth year Fashion and Technology student at the KPU Wilson School of Design, is the inaugural winner of the $1,000 award, established in partnership between KPU and TÉLIO, a Canadian fabric wholesaler.
“Receiving this award feels full circle. I originally went into fashion school because I was passionate about sustainability and solving problems,” says Chin. “I feel like this project was not only an opportunity for me to highlight those hard skills, but also the values that made me want to go into fashion school in the first place.”
Chin received the award for her capstone project, Citizen Collective — a capsule wardrobe for fashion-forward corporate professionals.
“I wanted to create a collection that adapts to that busy on-the-go lifestyle and makes it as easy as possible to go from, for example, your corporate job to a social gathering with friends,” she says. “The collection features 13 pieces that are meant to be durable, modular and versatile so that you can create multiple different style options from just one piece.”
Chin’s work stands out in clarity, concept and communication, says KPU Wilson School of Design instructor Michael Pope.
“Naiomi really has a gift for visual and verbal communication. Her direction and foundational values are so clear and her work is so beautifully presented,” says Pope.
Chin, who was recently hired as an Associate Technical Designer at Aritzia, says she chose the KPU Wilson School of Design for its hands-on approach and focus on technical skills.
“I feel like my capstone project and all of my experiences in the last four years have prepared me very well for the industry. I never felt like there was any hesitation in starting a new job. I felt like I was ready to go,” she says.
Students applying for the award must demonstrate they’ve taken thoughtful steps to pursue positive outcomes for both people and planet, demonstrate their design philosophy is grounded in sustainable design practices (e.g. zero-waste design, upcycling, circular design, etc.) and must integrate at least one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through each step of their project.
For more information on awards available to KPU Wilson School of Design students, visit the Scholarships & Awards page.
TÉLIO Donor Profile: TÉLIO is honored to present the TÉLIO Impact Award to a student who demonstrates passion and commitment toward social value and environmental impact in fashion design and Fashion Management. Our vision is to support fashion students to ground their design philosophies in sustainable practices, pursuing positive outcomes for both people and our planet through their creative endeavors. For over 70 years, TÉLIO has served the fashion industry, and we are committed to supporting fashion and design students, who are the successors and future creators of our industry.
