Grapevine fashion student wins national competition

Hats off to Emily Mince of Grapevine, who recently made a fashion statement with a do-it-yourself graduation cap kit.

Mince and fellow Texas Woman’s University fashion-merchandising senior Deema Aridi of Allen recently won the 2015 Student Challenge Competition sponsored by the National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association.

According a news release, Aridi and Mince took home the top scholarship and bragging rights with their product idea, the GradCap Kit — a do-it-yourself mortar-board-decorating kit. The two submitted business plans and a pitch video of their product idea during Retail’s BIG Show 2015 convention in New York City in January, where they were announced as the winners of the NRF 2105 Student Challenge.

“Having TWU students win this prestigious national competition sponsored by the NRF, which is considered the industry standard in retail, speaks to the quality and caliber of our fashion-merchandising students and our program,” Deborah Young, professor and director of the TWU fashion and textiles program, who mentored the Denton-based team, said in a news release. “I am extremely proud of both Deema and Emily for their extreme level of commitment to this project, which was demonstrated through endless meetings, point-on contributions, negotiated compromises and overall hard work.

As winners, the two women received a $2,500 scholarship.

“The experience of this competition and being recognized for our work is one of my biggest accomplishments,” said Mince, 23. “Creating a product and business plan like it was meant to be put on the shelves taught me more than I thought I would ever know. Being a part of the NRF Student Challenge has opened up many doors for me, and I feel so blessed to have been a part of it.”

Mince, who graduates in May, said the win will help her plans to seek a career in store management or corporate.

As for the win, she said, “We were so excited. We had hoped and hoped and hoped we would win. It was something we really wanted. It was absolutely amazing.”

This story was originally published March 3, 2015 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Grapevine fashion student wins national competition."