American clothing brand Tommy Hilfiger has just launched a fashion design competition developed through the People’s Place programme in collaboration with Fashion Row in Harlem called the New Legacy Challenge.

This competition was created with the aim of giving visibility to a whole new generation of emerging black designers and to learn how they shaped the famous American cool style and how they expanded their talent and vision. It wasn’t until September last year that the brand started running it. Since then, TH has invited designers to participate in the New Legacy Challenge and share their interpretation of contemporary prep, a style that has always been part of Hilfiger’s DNA.

The winner of this competition will be presented with a $20,000 scholarship and the opportunity to co-design a capsule collection with the TH design team. Interesting proposition, isn’t it?

Want to know who the three finalists were? Megan Smith, founder of Megan Renee, a contemporary and sustainable brand for women inspired by her travels, the outdoors and the beauty of women; Jonathan Hayden, founder of his eponymous brand, which is characterized by the union of interactive design and user experience; and finally Clarence Ruth, founder of the Cotte D’Armes brand, which explores denim from a new point of view.

What do these finalists have to do in the final phase? Reimagine six iconic preppy garments and present their proposals through a panel to the jury members.

When will we know who will be the official winner of the competition? Next March with an event, which will also be used as the premiere of the New Legacy Challenge documentary series, in which we’ll be able to see what goes behind the scenes and how each designer was inspired to take on the challenge.