2023 People’s Choice Award won by Ms. Standout

By Layah Lopes | Published March 4, 2024

Radiating from the 5th floor of the Green Lane Academic Building at the Kean University Union campus resides the “Ms. Stand Out” dress, a beacon of triumph crowned with the prestigious 2023 People’s Choice award.

The unique piece embodies a symposium of materials: a breastplate and hoop skirt constructed from vinyl floor tiles, a dress and bodysuit woven from commercial seating fabric, and a hat fashioned from rubber flooring and carpet fibers.

A collaborative endeavor led by distinguished Professor Linda O’Shea, alongside Professor Manual Davino, and a team of Kean’s finest hand-picked interior design students ensembled to conceive the dress that captivated and conquered the stage of the International Interior Design Association’s competition, Fashion Meets Finish.

Visualized and brought to life by the limitless creativity of current Kean Alumni Kevin Abou Samra, Mildred Alvarado, Sarah Boate, Abigail Burns, Melanie Cano, Amanda Dembowski, Gabrielle Frabasile, Rebecca Flores, Jennie Moreines, and Juliana Ross.

The creative team was given ten weeks to complete the project and were prompted with the theme statement “We Make Space…………..using color, shape, and form.”

Each team was assigned a manufacturing company to provide support and materials. Armed with solely the offerings of Tarkett Home, a sustainable flooring company, this team shaped everyday materials with precision and finesse, turning mundane into mesmerizing.

The spark of inspiration was said to be collaborative, with ideas being composed. O’Shea asserted that magenta immediately became the color of choice as it was the color of the year at the time.

As the project neared its last days, this relentless pursuit of excellence left many creators dedicating the early dawn hours to constructing. 

“They wanted it to be perfect… and I think that’s just how it came out,” said O’Shea.

To the team, the dress represented far more than what the eye meets.

“Ms.Stand Out-she is a study in empowerment. She is brave. She is fearless…Her beauty is bold, strong, and dramatic. From the architectural forms of the 80s-inspired shoulder pads to the historically inspired hoop skirt, she transforms herself to encourage experimentation and self-expression without restraint, as she “makes her space” in the world,” states the team blurb. 

The dress emulates the intensity of the tireless efforts of this vibrant crew. Davino delved into the intricacies of the competition, revealing the depth of dedication it takes to participate.

Having participated in the event for numerous years, the friendly competition has become an ingrained tradition for the two professors, a testament to their enduring commitment and expertise.

“We have done the competition five years in a row now…We are a lot more collaborative because everyone can get so busy,” says Davino.

In acknowledgment of pivotal contributions, credit was extended to model Cano, whose presence on the runway surpassed simply a sensational performance, demonstrating qualities that were involved in conceptualizing the dress.

Davino sheds light on the exemplary role played by Cano, emphasizing her skills. 

“She knows how to sew. She actually was a model before, so that gave us an advantage,”says Davino.

With such a harmonious effort, the dress transcended its material form, testifying to talent, dedication, and collaborative spirit, which symbolize excellence and exquisite artistry.

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