Andrea Eklund, Central Washington University professor of Apparel, Textiles, and Merchandising, won the Educators for Socially Responsible Apparel Business Award for Sustainable Design—Professional Level at the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) conference. The competition was a rigorous, double-blind, juried exhibition—only 139 designs were accepted into the competition out of 374 submitted.

Eklund says she is honored to have her work recognized, but ultimately agrees that it should mainly be used as inspiration for her students.

"It's good for [students] to see me being active, and me designing," said Eklund, "So it's not just teaching, I'm not just teaching it, I'm actually doing it. I think it inspires them, and i think it gives them -- okay she's actually doing it, she has knowledge, and I can see her doing it."

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Story by Eugene Buenaventura  courtesy of KAPP TV; photo courtesy of KAPP-TV