CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Belk's 2015 Southern Designer Showcase winners will see their new and exclusive collections debut at select Belk stores and on Belk.com this week. Selected from nearly 300 entrants last spring, each winner currently lives in the South or has a strong connection to the region. 

"Southern Designer Showcase is Belk's way of nurturing and showcasing talented designers from across the South who are able to create collections that deliver Modern Southern Style for our shoppers," said Cynthia Washburn-Nester, Belk's vice president of fashion and trend. "This is our third group of winning designers, and we are very proud to have their designs sold at Belk alongside today's top names in fashion."

2015 Southern Designer Showcase winners include:    

Katherine Todd – New York, New York
Company:  Blithe
Designs that reflect the feminine, colorful aesthetic that Southern women admire, these dresses are bright, whimsical and fun.

Amanda Williamson – Conyers, Georgia
Company:  Ennyluap
Designed with fit and flare in mind, this classic and contemporary line incorporates flattering shapes with fun fabrics and colors. 

Natt Taylor – Atlanta, Georgia
Company:  Natt Taylor Collections
Sassy, sophisticated womenswear that celebrates the natural feminine form with bold color, sensual shapes and subtle details, making each design, inspired by professional women, easily transition from day to evening.

Emily Reece and Katelyn Barringer – Rock Hill, South Carolina
Company:  Reece Blaire
These unique jewelry pieces are inspired by the designers' Southern roots and contain elements of sass, wit and sophistication with a modern flare. 

April Moore and Courtni Tyre – Birmingham, Alabama
Company: three007
Contemporary collection with clean lines, statement prints and feminine touches designed for the classy, young Southern woman with a modern twist.

In addition to being featured on Belk.com, Southern Designer Showcase winner collections will be available at nine Belk stores: The Summit, Birmingham, Alabama; Phipps Plaza, Atlanta, Georgia; SouthPark Mall, Charlotte, North Carolina; Crabtree Valley Mall, Raleigh, North Carolina; Hanes Mall, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Columbiana Centre, Columbia, South Carolina; Haywood Mall, Greenville, South Carolina; Mt. Pleasant Towne Centre, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina; and Cool Springs Galleria (Nashville), Franklin, Tennessee.

The deadline for new designers to enter the 2016 Southern Designer Showcase is March 31. Designers can visit belk.com/southerndesigner to submit their applications.

About Belk, Inc.
Belk, Inc., a private department store company based in Charlotte, N.C., is the home of Modern. Southern. Style. with 293 Belk stores located in 16 Southern states and a growing digital presence. Belk is a portfolio company of Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm based in New York. Belk and www.belk.com offer a wide assortment of national brands and private label fashion apparel, shoes and accessories for the entire family along with top name cosmetics, a wedding registry and a large selection of quality merchandise for the home.

Belk offers many ways to connect via digital and social media, including Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Google Plus, and provides exclusive offers, fashion updates, sales notifications and coupons via email or mobile phone text messages. Customers can also download the latest Belk mobile apps for the iPad, iPhone or Android.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160307/341046

SOURCE Belk, Inc.