Lectra, the world leader in integrated technology solutions dedicated to industries using fabrics, leather, technical textiles and composite materials has announced the winners of the Lectra/JCPenney (JCP) Fashion Design Contest, held recently at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York.

Lectra and JCPenney jointly organized the contest to support FIT in its mission to prepare its design students for careers in the fashion industry by giving them a chance to work on real-world projects and providing exposure for their designs. Fashion design students chose from one of JCPenney’s exclusive, private brands, including Worthington®, St. John’s Bay®, Stylus®, and Decree®, and created a collection using Lectra’s Kaledo® textile and fashion design solution, based on the brand’s positioning and its customer profile.

Cagla Ertan took first place in the competition, winning an eight-month internship at JCPenney’s SOHO design studio starting in September, along with a complimentary Kaledo license. Ertan created original designs, prints, and color palettes for Decree, JCPenney’s brand for juniors with a sophisticated point of view. The judges felt that Cagla’s collection best embodied the brand’s DNA. Second-place winner, Kevin Tung, and third-place winner, Cemile Simsek, were also awarded Kaledo licenses. Tung and Simsek’s collections both showcased strong original styles and prints.

FIT and Lectra have been partnering together for more than 25 years; both believe in the importance of educational initiatives that put students in direct contact with real-world businesses.