It’s no secret among aspiring designers that making a successful career in fashion is no easy feat. There are sleepless nights, months of anguish leading up to an important presentation, and years of hard work that all go into the mix. Those aren’t the only factors, though.

Charleston Fashion Week^® knows that it’s the right opportunities and exposure that really kick-start a designer’s success. Charleston Fashion Week^® has long touted itself as a springboard for careers in fashion, and its Emerging Designer Competition: East (EDC:E) has proven to be just that. CFW works all year to come up with what we think will be the perfect concoction of prize items to help our winner succeed.

The Emerging Designer Competition: East at Charleston Fashion Week^® (March 19-23, 2013) provides experience and exposure for all of its semifinalists, and for one Grand Prize Winner, this year the winnings just got a little sweeter.

2013's Grand Prize Winner will walk away from CFW’s Emerging Designer Competition with $5,000 cash, $10,000 in online marketing and a promotional package from F22 designs, and booth space at New York’s fashion trade show, Nouveau Collective. In addition, the winner will receive professional hi-quality lookbook images of their collection from J Baillet: Photographer, a runway show at CFW 2014, a new BERNINA sewing machine compliments of Fashion Fabrics, and more.

2013’s newest prizing addition is an exhibit booth at Nouveau Collective, the well-renowned fashion tradeshow in New York. The show hosts thousands of buyers and hundreds of designers at its events each year. 2013’s EDC:E winner will have the opportunity to exhibit their collection in May 2013 or September 2013. At the show, the winner will meet industry leaders, established designers, buyers of boutiques and retailers from around the world, editors, press, and other seasoned industry colleagues.

Designers, we know it’s no cakewalk to get your work from sketchbook to runway. CFW wants to make those months of hard work and anguish worth your while. Our Emerging Designer Competition: East is ready to make 2013’s winner into 2013’s success story. Are you next?

CFW’s Emerging Designer Competition: East application deadline has been extended to October 19.

Click here to apply and learn more about this opportunity and its prizing (valued at over $35K), Charleston Fashion Week^®’s Emerging Designer Competition: East, to be held March 19-23, 2013.

For CFW Emerging Designer success stories, click here.