Project Red Dress Crowns NYFA's Rosie Kohlmeier

"Hot messes" didn't fly at this competition. From the runway, most of the garments were stylish and interesting, with the exception of some puckering seams and uneven hems. We stood next to the adorable Miss Washington Galaxy, Brielle, and we shared a few moments "oohing" and "ahhing" over a stunning 1950s striped matte and satin patterned, Hollywood glam gown. We were also impressed by the imperial drama of a silk chiffon harem gown with a heightened collar. And our tastes were validated as both of our favorites made it to the final round, along with the winning garment: a flirty taffeta cocktail dress with an adorning bow—a bow that made all the difference.

It was unanimous among the judges— Rosie Kohlmeier of NYFA stole the show with her subtle design details and impeccable artisanship. For Laura Cassidy, fashion editor for Seattle Metropolitan magazine, it was the architecture of the dress that won her vote. "The structure of this piece really stood out—the bow was tucked and sewn into the bodice with another smaller bow; it was not simply tied … I also judged by what I could see selling in a store, and local retailers are actually starting to sell more statement pieces like this."

Kohlmeier is the eighth student from the New York Fashion Academy to win a major fashion competition in the past two years. Last year Karly Orr took first place in the inaugural Project Red Dress, and all five winners from Seamless in Seattle Competition were from NYFA. Since its inception in 1979, the New York Fashion Academy remains the only independent fashion school in the entire Pacific Northwest, and is still one of Seattle's best kept secrets.

With almost no attention to interior aesthetics, NYFA, is not trying to impress anyone, nor entice students with any superfluous distractions. You won't see glossy tile flooring, matching chairs and rows of expensive industrial sewing machines at this school. With antique, turn of the century surgers and sewing machines, tall ceilings and a few buckets carefully arranged here and there on a rainy winter day, NYFA accidentally exudes a traditional, almost "Old-World" charm to it; the school is rigorous with little time or tolerance for pretension. The program is built around local fashion proprietors and players, including Director Terry Horlamus, formerly of Vogue and the founder of the Puget Sound Chapter of Professional Association of Custom Clothiers, and Provost Robert Whaley, PhD. "We focus on fashion design and construction—not to the exclusion of merchandising and marketing—but we believe you have to produce a quality product before you can sell it."

The New York Fashion Academy offers an 18-month Certificate Program in Design and Construction (licensed by Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board), as well as individual classes open to the public.