MURFREESBORO — An
MTSU alumna is the grand prize winner in season two of the Diet Coke Young
Designer Challenge.
Julianna Bass, a 2002 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in
textiles, merchandising and design, defeated 20 semifinalists to capture top
honors with her unique T-shirt design.
“The new Diet Coke T-shirt is a refreshing take on the
classic white tee,” said Rebecca Minkoff, professional designer and Diet Coke
Young Designer Challenge judge. “Julianna’s design perfectly captures the
energy and boost that Diet Coke provides.”
The public voted for their favorite design from among the 20
semifinalists. The 10 designs that received the largest numbers of votes made
the finals and were submitted to Minkoff for the ultimate decision.
“Personally, I am humbled to have been chosen as the grand
prize winner,” Bass said in an e-mail interview.
“It is such an honor to have the votes of so many to get me
into the top 10 and have a celebrity designer, whom I respect so much, choose
my design for the win and compliment it so!”
A press release from www.dietcoke.com
noted that “Bass’s design also won the popular vote online.
“Of the more than 135,000 votes submitted during the public
voting phase, Bass’s design stood out as the clear frontrunner from the
beginning.”
As winner, Bass will receive $10,000 and a trip for two to
Nashville Sept. 20 to see Taylor Swift in concert.
Most importantly, her design will be emblazoned on T-shirts
to be sold at all Target stores nationwide beginning this Sunday, Sept. 1.
“I will be able to create part of my Fall 2014 collection
with the prize money, and I will then be showing it in January of 2014,” Bass
said.
“It is also a huge step in any designer’s career to be
featured at Target in any capacity, and this will do wonders for the promotion
of my line/brand.”
Bass’s design shows a model wearing a grey-and-black-striped
shirt and a red mermaid skirt flared at the knees. She is resting her hand on
the “C” in “Coke.”
In her contest description, Bass writes, “The inspiration
for my design was centered around trust. … We can count on Diet Coke to make us
feel and look great! It tastes divine. It’s undoubtedly refreshing, oh so chic,
and causes absolutely no caloric anxiety!
“We trust you, Diet Coke. We count on you. We lean on you.
And you deliver every single time!”
Bass, a native of Pulaski, Tenn., moved to New York to enter
The Fashion Institute of Technology after graduating from MTSU. She specialized
in eveningwear and was named 2004 Designer of the Year in her class.
Following an internship with designer Marc Jacobs, Bass
honed her talent as an employee of several designers in the Garment District,
including Bill Blass and Elie Tahari, before establishing her own fashion line
for the first time in 2008.
Celebrities including Paula Abdul and Eva Longoria have worn
Bass’s fashions, and she has received accolades from numerous publications,
including Vogue, Lucky, Women’s Wear Daily, New York Magazine, Daily Candy, OK
Magazine and Racked.
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