Eight of 20 student designers from the Trade and Fashion Academy Las Vegas have advanced to the final round of a Raiders apparel design competition. Fans can vote for their favorite through November 20.
The design competition celebrates Día de Muertos and draws on both the team's identity and the holiday's cultural traditions, according to KLAS 8 News Now. The Las Vegas Raiders partnered with Trade & Fashion Academy Las Vegas and NFL México to put it together, giving local student designers a chance to turn their creativity into an official Silver & Black apparel collection. As the Raiders put it in a program video, the collaboration gives students the opportunity to showcase their creativity through a real-world design project inspired by Día de Muertos.
Eight Finalists, One Fan Vote
The Raiders and NFL México selected eight finalists from the original 20 submissions, and fans can view those designs and cast votes at raiders.com/silverandblackcollective through November 20, per the same KLAS report. The finalist designs will also be displayed at the Día de Muertos celebration at Springs Preserve, where each one is expected to be featured in an immersive 3D holographic showcase, letting visitors see the students' work brought to life.
Springs Preserve lists its own Día de Muertos event running November 6 through 8 from 5 to 9 p.m., with members getting exclusive early entry starting at 4 p.m., according to Springs Preserve. Nonmember tickets run $15 for adults and $9 for children ages 3 to 17, and the event includes live entertainment, altars honoring deceased relatives and loved ones, mariachis, traditional food, and art vendors.
What Winning Could Mean
KLAS reported that Kristen Banks said the Raiders are committed to creating opportunities that invest in Las Vegas people and talent. The winning student will have the opportunity to work with the Raiders’ image team as it develops a limited-edition apparel collection inspired by the design.
The collection is expected to launch nationwide in fall 2027, with proceeds benefiting the Raiders Foundation and its initiatives supporting youth development, mental health and Nevada communities, KLAS reported. The winning designer is expected to be announced in late November or early December.
The Academy and Foundation Context
Trade & Fashion Academy says it is located in Las Vegas’ University District and offers fashion, sewing, business and other creative classes. The Raiders describe the competition as a real-world design project, connecting it with the school’s creative coursework.
Separately, the Raiders say the Raiders Foundation’s second annual Silver & Black Gala raised $3 million for youth mental health initiatives in Nevada at Allegiant Stadium on May 17. That was gala fundraising, not proceeds from the student apparel project, according to the Raiders.
