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CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State University student Amanda Grisham won the Emerging Designers Competition in conjunction with Portland Fashion Week last week.

Grisham, a senior in apparel design and merchandising management minoring in business and entrepreneurship, was one nine finalists in the Catapult: Emerging Designers Competition, which was held Oct. 5 in conjunction with Portland Fashion Week.

The native of Tigard was picked both by the audience and by an expert panel of judges as the audience favorite. Grisham's Pendleton-inspired line called Grishley was a blend of Native American designs with modern touches. Portland Monthly style editor Eden Dawn wrote in her blog that Grisham's designs were "hands down some of the strongest of the show."

"I was able to present a collection that I was incredibly proud of, and came out with an amazing batch of new opportunities," Grisham said. "To prepare for this collection I did everything but sleep and exercise - two activities I look forward to getting back to!"

Grisham said after graduation she hopes to work for an active wear company in Portland while continuing to do her own designs. She is already starting to prepare for a new line of designs to launch in fall 2012.

Grisham's fashion blog can be found at: http://grishley.wordpress.com