DiscarDisco 2023 - Rags to Riches -Meet our Judges Panel!!

DiscarDisco is just around the corner! Yesterday our illustrious judges received contestant’s video submissions of their work and scorecards. Judges are tasked with rating each contestant on: Creativity, Design and Construction.

The top 20 contestants will be competing for our top 3 grand prizes and to help raise money for our mission! Help them turn Rags into Riches by donating to The WasteShed at donorbox.org/discardisco-2023

Contestants have poured their heart and soul into this transformation of our upcycled fabric, notions and bits. This will be a difficult choice, but we’ve selected a well seasoned panel of judges for their work in fashion, design and sustainability.

Meet our Judges!

J Frausto
(they/them he/him)

Thrifter, Designer, Stylist
@the.thrifted.gay

J Frausto is a Mexican/Puerto Rican Chicago native who identifies as queer. They found their style through their gender expression that led to being an androgynous thrift stylist. After styling people who identified as queer they realized there is a need to bridge the gap to make clothes gender affirming. 

Lauren Lein (she/her)

Apparel Industry Board President
EndangerUS LLC.

Lauren Lein is notable as a 25 year Chicago Fashion veteran. Lauren is a four-term president of the Apparel Industry Board, Inc. and a proud member of The Service Club of Chicago. Lauren’s adult children, Andreah and Drew, serve as an inspiration for many of her favorite design pieces. 

EndangerUS - Lauren’s LLC- designs and/or produces their clothing with seamers and contractors across the city and beyond practicing safe methods, sustainability, fair wages, and excellent working conditions. LLLTD uses primarily eco-friendly and natural fabrics — and practices re-purposing with all garments, masks, and samples produced. 

Melissa Carter
(she/her)

Owner Kameo Vintage
I Am The Carter Projekt

Melissa returned to Chicago by way of New York in 2020, Melissa launched her successful slow impact style studio, Kameo Vintage, and it’s sister brand – I Am The Carter Projekt, with a variety of services including, style curation, influencer and speaking ventures. When she is not serving “lewks” and inspiration on social media, you’ll find her making waves in her community. She’s shaken up the North Shore with her vibrant energy, her commitment to the art of storytelling through fashion—specifically slow fashion—and her commitment to provide inspiration to the youth and budding fashionistas of Chicago. She is an active mentor and philanthropist, and often speaks to groups and working with organizations that help others nurture their dreams. She is a member of FGI, Chicago Costume Council, Josselyn Auxiliary Board, and Jack and Jill of America.

Melissa is uniquely talented implementing a modern luxury approach to slow fashion.  That is what you will find at Kameo Vintage.  I Am The Carter Projekt reveals the magic that she brings through her own personal style, personality and creative direction.

Anna Hovet Dias (she/her)

Owner Hovet Fashion Studio
Director Chicago Fashion Incubator at Macy’s|
SAIC - Faculty

Anna Hovet Dias is a fashion designer, entrepreneur, and educator with 17 years experience in corporate and small business fashion companies. After running her own fashion line for 9 years, she pivoted her company into Hovet Fashion Studio, a fashion school and consulting agency. Anna is also the Executive Director of the Chicago Fashion Incubator at Macy’s on State Street, a nonprofit that supports local fashion designers. Anna teaches at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she earned her BFA in 2007. Anna is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience to encourage creativity and female entrepreneurship in Chicago.

Iyomi Ho Ken
(she/her)

Fashion Designer
CFDA Scholar

Iyomi’s first interest in clothing began when she was younger, drawing clothes and making them for her dolls. Wanting to expand, she focused on creating clothes for herself after finding most didn’t fit her properly as a long limbed adolescent. This- along with her love for drawing, painting, and all things craft- opened up a world of self expression. Deciding to primarily focus on making clothing as art in her college years sprouted from realizing fashion is an art form. She grew weary of only creating pieces that would “sell.”

With this came a series of exploration, involving race and color theory in a majority of her undergrad work. During this period, she was awarded 2 scholarships from the CFDA for her third year collection; making her the largest scholarship recipient of the CFDA & SAIC’s undergrad history.

Her work has been shown through in person & online exhibition’s, along with the SAIC Fashion Program’s Show in the Spring of 2022. She currently works in Chicago pursuing her personal practice and as a fashion designer for the brands "House of Aama" & "Kercher Studio.”

Meet our judges live at our show, or watch streaming! Tickets and info at thewasteshed.com/discardisco