Jasmine Williams and Annalise Robins, U of A apparel merchandising and product development majors, claimed the top two spots in this year's school-level Nextile: Soy in Textile Design Challenge.

In Nextile's second year of its competition, design students from 21 colleges and universities were invited to leverage their creative and problem-solving skills to produce the next s

ustainable innovation in textile design. The catch, students were required to create products using one versatile ingredient — soybeans.

Each participating individual or team received a design kit including six sustainable, soy-based materials including: soy silk, soy cashmere, organic pigment, soy wax and other soy products. Project submissions leveraged three or more of these ingredients to produce new textile threads, dyes, paints, designs and more. Judges included representatives from the design and textile industries, and soy farmers from around the country.

Both students were mentored by Lance Cheramie, teaching assistant professor of apparel merchandising and product design in the School of Human Environmental Sciences of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

"The Nextile: Soy in Textiles Design Challenge represents the future of sustainability in the textile industry by empowering the next generation of designers to think creatively and responsibly," says Cheramie.

The competition, sponsored by the United Soybean Board, aimed to support professors teaching sustainability and textile designs. It provided college students with an opportunity to showcase creative and problem-solving skills, leading to contributions to increased sustainability of textiles for various applications.

Students had to create products using soybeans. Participating individuals or teams received a design kit including seven sustainable, soy-based materials: thread, leather, French Terry, organic pigment and other products, all soy-based. Project entries leveraged one or more ingredient to produce new textile threads, dyes, paints, designs or other elements.

Williams placed first, and advances to Nextile's national finals, while Robins finished second. Williams created a trademarked Bio-vera embroidered design for fashion or upholstery while Robins created an applique vest.

"Jasmine's Bio-vera embroidered design, blended beauty and versatility for fashion or upholstery," says Cheramie. "She now advances to the national competition, representing the U of A and competing against students from 21 other colleges and universities. Annalise also impressed with her innovative appliqué vest, showcasing the diverse potential of soy-based materials. This challenge is more than a competition—it's an opportunity for students to explore the untapped potential of soy-based materials and showcase innovative solutions that could redefine the textile industry."

"It's incredible how these talented students use their creativity and technical skill to create new uses for our soybeans," said Carla Schultz, Michigan soybean farmer representing U.S. Soy on the United Soybean Board, who served as a judge of the competition. "Their designs are impressive. And their commitment to developing sustainable solutions using soy is impressive. I'm excited for the future of each competitor who participated and for the future of soy."

The winners from each school receive a $500 scholarship and the runner-up receives a $250 scholarship. 

Last year, U of A's Kasandra Wright won the national contest and a $1,000 scholarship with a moth skirt design in Nextile's first year of the competition.

"Projects like Jasmine's and Annalise's highlight the immense talent, ingenuity and dedication of these students as they push boundaries in sustainable design," says Cheramie. "The competition not only fosters professional growth, but also strengthens the connection between academia and industry, paving the way for a more sustainable future in fashion and textile production."

Soy has long been a key ingredient for product innovation, going back to Henry Ford who used soy-based paints, textile materials and plastics for automobile design. U.S. Soy is in more than 1,000 products on the market — from tires and shoes to fabrics and artificial grass. Soy is a renewable crop, replenishing soil annually with each growing season, and is important for biobased products.

U.S. soybean farmers and industry partners consistently push the limits of innovation to discover and deliver solutions to the most significant challenges our world faces, such as food security and climate change. Nextile was created to put sustainable soy materials into the hands of the brightest young minds in design to create the next generation of eco-friendly and biobased textile solutions.

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About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policymakers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.