Nolcha, DKT Communications and PimTim launch "Branded" a Contest for Independent Designers

After an in-depth review of Nolcha’s network of independent fashion designers, the award-winning, multifaceted fashion services company -- in partnership with branding and marketing communications firm DKT Communications and graphic-design crowdsourcing platform PimTim -- honored rising star Michelle Barone as the winner of “Branded: Nolcha’s Contest for the Independent Designer.”

Created to help independent fashion designers jump-start their branding initiatives, “Branded” provides the winner with the building blocks of their brand identity and messaging. The prize package is valued at $1,700 and consists of a logo, designer profile and professional headshot produced by the creative minds behind Nolcha, DKT Communications and PimTim.

“Nolcha is a business network for independent designers at all stages in their career,” says Nolcha creative director Lynn Furge. “Therefore, to be able to partner with both DKT Communications and PimTim to help Michelle Barone -- a young, fresh designer -- create her brand image is so exciting and important. The initial branding of Michelle’s label will be the skeleton that holds the business together, and Nolcha cannot wait to see the results.”

Barone, the visionary behind the Misha Barone label (www.mishabarone.com), agrees. “Every new opportunity leads you to another. Gaining these tools and elements will no doubt assist me in the next step of the process. I think it is a wonderful thing when artists and out-of-the-box thinkers are able to come together in collaboration. That’s what makes the creative world so incredible. It’s definitely a comforting support system.”

To be rolled out annually, the contest is an excellent vehicle to spark designers’ interest in branding while vying for the opportunity to win the services of some of the best names in the industry. From crafting the brand story to designing its identity to shaping its message, branding must be at the core of every business strategy.

“The story of the people behind an idea, a product or a design is the essence – the soul -- of the brand,” says Dawn Terrick, president of DKT Communications, Inc. “And Michelle’s radiating energy and cutting-edge creativity make for a fantastic tale – one that I look forward to telling. Playing a part in the growth of Michelle’s label by providing her with a designer profile that she can use to promote herself and her work across various marketing channels, thus contributing to the Misha Barone brand, is extremely rewarding.”

Further capturing the young designer’s spirit is PimTim. An online marketplace for graphic design, where buyers and creatives connect, PimTim is challenging talent from all over the world to design the new identity for the Misha Barone label.

“This is what PimTim is all about -- giving people the possibility to connect to talent all over the world,” says PimTim founder Vincent Bröring. “We are very proud to support the branding of the Misha Barone label, and our talented community of graphic designers around the world is happy to help. They will unleash their creativity!”