Piecing it together: Julia LeKander wins Western's 2023 New York Fashion Week Competition
![Julia LeKander at a sewing machine.](https://files.wmich.edu/s3fs-public/styles/3_2/public/images/u3800/2023/Julia%20LeKander%201.jpg?h=ac778ff2&itok=b1oYwlBI)
Julia LeKander won the grand prize of Western's New York Fashion Week Competition with her zero-waste wrap skirt.
![Image](https://files.wmich.edu/s3fs-public/styles/3_2/public/images/u3800/2023/Julia%20LeKander%202.jpg?h=ac778ff2&itok=wUbR8wSe)
LeKander's design was inspired by growing concerns about fashion fashion and global sustainability in the fashion industry.
![A bed sheet next to a sketch of Lekander's skirt.](https://files.wmich.edu/s3fs-public/styles/3_2/public/images/u3800/2023/Julia%20LeKander%203.jpg?h=c6980913&itok=MBIBC6z6)
The beginner-friendly design uses recycled material that most college students have access to and could make if following the written instructions with visuals.
![LeKander working on her wrap skirt in the fashion lab.](https://files.wmich.edu/s3fs-public/styles/3_2/public/images/u3800/2023/Julia%20LeKander%204.jpg?h=ac778ff2&itok=wm-e7yUi)
The skirt LeKander created is inspired by street style and is zero waste. She wanted to avoid a boxy design while utilizing the rectangular bed sheet.
![LeKander tying the sash on her zero-waste wrap skirt, which is placed on a dress form.](https://files.wmich.edu/s3fs-public/styles/3_2/public/images/u3800/2023/Julia%20LeKander%205.jpg?h=ac778ff2&itok=6JAo2HMU)
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Behind the rhythmic beat of the sewing machine is senior transfer fashion design major Julia LeKander. Following a whirlwind trip to New York Fashion Week (NYFW) in February, she’s exploring new design avenues after exploring the designs on Fifth Avenue.
“As an aspiring designer, I love to draw inspiration from street style,” LeKander said. “What could be better than witnessing it firsthand from the streets of a global fashion epicenter?”
LeKander won the grand prize trip to U of NYFW after presenting her zero-waste wrap skirt at Western’s second annual New York Fashion Week Competition. The most dreamy element of the design: It’s made from a twin flat bed sheet. Nothing sleepy about that fresh idea!