Mila Pershyn of Bloomfield Hills was the third place winner of the Passion for Fashion Sewing Challenge at the 19th annual American Sewing Expo that was held Sept. 28 - 30 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.

Reality television competitions, Lifetime’s Project Runway and Bravo’s The Fashion Show, were the inspiration for the Passion for Fashion Sewing Challenge that started as the show opened on Friday, September 28. The 12 finalists designed and sewed garments for judging by Joe Faris, owner and designer for Motor City Denim and Project Runway finalist; Susan Kahlje, couture sewing expert, author and TV host; and Ellen March, editor of Sew News and Creative Machine magazines and host of PBS TV “Sew It All.” The finale fashion show took place Saturday, September 29. The contestants were from Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska and North Carolina. First place received a Baby Lock Symphony sewing machine; second place received a Baby Lock Imagine DX serger and third place received a Baby Lock Melody sewing machine. Baby Lock provided the same machines for audience door prizes.

The event is the largest independent consumer sewing show in the country and features celebrities, experts, national fiber arts exhibits, free stage demonstrations, seminars, hands-on workshops, competitions, young sewer programs, fashion style shows, contests and over 125 exhibitors displaying sewing, quilting, knitting, home décor and fiber arts products. For more information, visit www.AmericanSewingExpo.com or call (248) 889-3111.