Dominique White celebrated her 22nd birthday by competing in Fashion Week New Orleans Top Design Competition.

This former Loyola student launched her collection as a contestant in Fashion Week New Orlean’s Top Design Competition, held March 19 at New Orleans Board of Trade.

Fashion Week New Orleans kicked off its five-day celebration from March 18-22, with a launch party at The Saint Hotel.

White said her passion for fashion was sparked while doodling outfits in her fourth grade class.

She started modeling four years ago and that’s when she witnessed fashion as an art form that intertwines the mediums such as drawing, sculpting and performing.

“It inspires,” White said. “It’s beautiful, and it serves a purpose to every individual in the world no matter, sex, race, class or religion.”

She initially was a philosophy major at Loyola, but decided to take the leap into the fashion industry by switching her major to visual arts. She said changing her major was a difficult task, but she’d rather pursue her dreams than live with regret.

“So much work, time, money and energy is invested into creating a collection all for five beautiful minutes on the runway,” White said.

White said her Loyola education taught her to think critically and challenge herself. She said she’s able to think of concepts, colors and materials from a different lens and focus on details others would overlook.

White said Fashion Week New Orleans is a great professional platform to showcase their designs.

“I think the very idea of Fashion Week New Orleans is genius,” White said.

She said being a part of this competition feels like a step in the right direction.

“I felt this was the beginning moment of something bigger than myself that my dream was really starting to take off and move forward,” White said.

Sara Kobe, mass communication senior, said White was one of 10 competing in the Top Design Competition, which is tailored toward emerging designers with two years of professional experience under their belts.

She said Fashion Week New Orleans’ goal is to help give new designers exposer.

“Starting out as a fashion designer, it can be very difficult to get noticed, to gain exposure and most importantly, to get inventory into boutiques,” Kobe said.

Kobe joined the Fashion Week New Orleans team in October of 2011 as its social media coordinator. She said she strived for a career in fashion and this job was able to blend her love for fashion while showcasing southern trends.

“Joining Fashion Week New Orleans allowed me to get a good, broad perspective of the entire fashion industry and how it works, which is great for someone like me who is hoping to pursue a career in it,” Kobe said.

Raymond Price, mass communication freshman and Julia Nolan, mass communication senior, will also represent the pack by modeling in Friday’s show.

The winner of Fashion Week New Orleans’ Top Design Competition will be announced Saturday, March 22.

Diana Mirfiq can be reached at [email protected]