Denver fashion never sleeps. And with the Fall 2025 season of Denver Fashion Week just a little over 80 days away, this city’s up-and-coming designers aren’t resting either.
This season’s Emerging Designer Challenge takes place THIS Saturday, August 23 at The Broadway, a NPU Venue. Since its conception, the challenge has been an entry point for growing artists, giving them the opportunity to showcase original designs while competitions for a chance to showcase a full collection on the Denver Fashion Week runway.
GET TICKETS: DFW EMERGING DESIGNER CHALLENGE
For the challenge, designers are judged by a panel of designers, runway production experts and industry professionals on factors such as construction and concept. At the end of the fashion show, two designers will be chosen (one by the judges and one through audience vote) to advance to the DFW Fall 2025 runway.
This year’s contestants include Dream Life Designs, MUHTORO, Pondor, Spencer Gordon and Nineteen Candles.
Dream Life Designs
Operated by Camille Cozzens, Dream Life Designs is a sustainable clothing brand that celebrates nature, inspired by the mountains, desert and forests of the western United States.
Driven by upcycling thrifted and vintage textiles, Cozzens’ designs breathe new life into garments that were once destined for the landfill. With a catalogue that includes bead work, appliqué, patches and other added details, Dream Life Designs specializes in one-of-a-kind garments and the sometimes forgotten art of slow fashion.
MUHTORO
A self-declared “anti-couturière,” MUHTORO’s designs reject mainstream industry trends. Through use of utilitarian fabrics and heavy hard wear accessories, MUHTORO reinterprets high fashion through an alternative lens.
MUHTORO combines exaggerated silhouettes and unexpected accessories with military standards such as utility jackets and camo. Altogether, the designer’s catalogue doesn’t shy away from anti-establishment commentary, and, in doing so, forces subculture straight to the center of the conversation.
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Pondor
Pondor describes his designs as a “wearable revolution.” Each piece in his upcoming collection for the Emerging Designer Challenge is hand tailored with authentic Andean textiles, bringing together masculine silhouettes, Latino identity, Incan history and, of course, high fashion.
Pondor’s designs merge history with modern elements, including both salutes to cultural traditions (with a piece inspired by Afro-Peruvian dance) and contemporary style (such as his Inka Trucker Jacket or INKA PROM looks): “These aren’t just outfits — they are stories, prayers and armors for a new generation.”
Nineteen Candles
Nineteen Candles’ Emerging Designer Challenge collection is inspired by women’s perseverance. Showcasing looks that contrast traditional feminine elements (such as ruffles and soft silhouettes) with staples of punk fashion and attitudes. In doing so, Nineteen Candles’ collection is expected to showcase feminine strength in alternative culture told through the lens of Harajuku punk and paying tribute to women who have paved the way to reject the status quo.
Building off of her core pillars of sustainability and handcrafting, Nineteen Candles will hand-bead, embroidered and screen print on secondhand materials for her collection, tentatively titled “Force of Nature.”
Spencer Gordon
Spencer Gordon is an alum of Colorado State University’s Fashion Design program, expected to bring colorful one-of-a-kind garments to this Saturday’s challenge.
Gordon’s capstone project at CSU was titled, “ROSE TINT,” constructed from soft fabrics in colorful yet natural shades. The capstone collection featured flowing silhouettes, bending gender and blending in structure for a garment line that was at once cohesive and contrasting. As such, Gordon will show this intentional execution to the Emerging Designers Challenge, certain to spotlight a powerful combination of quality construction and meaningful artwork.
Vote For The Designer You Want To See at DFW
Five designers will show collections at the DFW Emerging Designer Challenge, and only two will advance to share their vision on the Fall 2025 runway. Though our panel of judges will choose one winner, it’s up to the people to decide choose the second winning designer. At the end of the show, the audience members will vote on who they want to see this season.
READ: CAKEBRAIN and Timeless Trend Win Spring ‘25 Emerging Designer Challenge
Tickets are on sale now for all who want a say in DFW Fall 2025’s designer line-up.
The Emerging Designer Challenge Fall 2025 will take place August 23 from 8-10 p.m. at The Broadway 650 N Broadway, Denver, CO 80203. More information and tickets can be found on the event listing.
Denver Fashion Week Fall 2025 will take place November 8-16, 2025. More information about the event, including volunteer opportunities, sign-up for the Hair and Makeup team and the DFW ticket waitlist can be found at denverfashionweek.com.