2026 Project Upcycle - meet this year's judges

More exciting Project Upcycle announcements coming your way, readers!

Meet this year's elite panel of judges featuring some familiar faces and brand new perspectives:
Ashley Cushon • Christian Hernán De Restrepo • Alison Tranter  

At the Project Upcycle Runway Event on Saturday, October 24, the judges will evaluate designs on execution, creative reuse of materials, and styling. Plus, attendees will have the chance to vote for the "Audience Choice" prize!

• First Prize:
  •  $2,500
  • New this year: The First Place winner will be invited to have a solo runway event and share a collection at 3S Artspace in the Spring of 2027.
  • The winner will also score a meeting with the CEO of Apparel Impact, Joe Whitten, for an inside look at new upcycling initiatives and a conversation about potential collaboration.
• Second Prize: $1,500
• Third Prize: $1,000
• Recovergirl Audience Choice Prize: $500

Ashley Cushon [she/her] is an apparel designer and founder of CORE OF US, a conscious fashion initiative creating thoughtfully designed clothing from repurposed and responsibly sourced materials. She holds a BFA in Fashion Design from Massachusetts College of Art and Design and brings over 13 years of industry experience, including teaching pattern drafting at her alma mater and over a decade designing for the U.S. Army. Her expertise spans design innovation, product development, and technical execution.

People, places, culture, and travel are the heartbeat of Ashley’s unique design perspective. A two-time Project Upcycle champion, she combines apparel engineering, sustainability, and storytelling to create pieces that are both purposeful and wearable.

Following her second Project Upcycle win, Ashley turned her focus to growing CORE OF US as a vehicle to advance circular design, reimagine existing materials, and build a connected fashion community. Through her work, she aims to challenge conventional clothing creation and encourage a more intentional future for the industry.

Instagram: @thecoreofus

Christian Hernán De Restrepo Zúñiga Velázquez Betancourt, is a Boston-based, first generation Colombian American maker who explores the intersection of opposing worlds and the Self, by joining unusual and mundane materials to create a cohesive whole from disparate parts.

Through a votive, ritualistic process, De Restrepo weaves hand-worked textiles, primarily expanding the possibilities of his signature stapled fabric, la tela engradapa. By transforming the textiles into objects that border sculpture and fabric, he echoes the beliefs and technical artistry of his ancestors’ metalwork and their respect for materials and process.

Alison Tranter is a materials and product innovation leader whose career has been shaped by curiosity, collaboration, and a commitment to creating innovative and thoughtful, responsible products. She has lived and worked in London, Hong Kong, Jakarta, New York, and Boston, partnering with mills, factories, designers, and crossfunctional teams to develop new materials, processes, and more imaginative ways of manufacturing commercially viable product that meets the needs of fit, fashion, and sustainability.

Her experience spans the full supply chain — from yarn and fabric development to garment manufacturing, global sourcing, and retail. Alison has led materials development and creative services teams across footwear, apparel, and accessories, contributing to categories from performance to lifestyle. She brings deep technical expertise in materials engineering, construction technologies, and performance standards, allowing her to translate creative concepts into products that are both innovative and manufacturable at scale. She is most energized by the shared process: the conversations, experiments, and collective problem solving that turn ideas into products with purpose.

Sustainability is a central focus in Alison’s work. She believes that thoughtful material choices and responsible design practices open up new creative possibilities, and she continues to learn from the people around her — from suppliers pioneering new technologies to emerging designers challenging longheld assumptions.

Alison strives to lead with empathy, clarity, and a sense of humor. She is passionate about teaching and mentoring, and she is at her best when helping teams grow, collaborate, and build confidence in their own ideas. She remains inspired by creators who bring fresh perspectives and a spirit of responsible innovation to the future of fashion, and she values being part of product creation teams who share that mindset.

Don't forget to buy your tickets to the Project Upcycle Runway Event on Saturday, October 24. Over half of the tickets have sold already, so don't wait!

The Project Upcycle sustainable fashion challenge and Runway Event are presented by 3S Artspace in partnership with Jennifer Moore, RECOVERGIRL.

Thank you to our Project Upcycle Sponsors: