Austin, TX
Nigel Xavier Dives Into Game-Day Style With Meta AI And Texas Football
Nigel Xavier has brought creative brilliance and boundless innovation to fashion since winning Next in Fashion Season 2 on Netflix in 2023. Known as the “patchwork king” and the “wizard of denim,” Xavier has captured the imagination of the fashion world through his upcycled, avant-garde streetwear designs.
Bringing a keen sense of luxe to upcycled garments, the “patchwork king” transforms second-hand materials into bold runway statements as his rise has been meteoric since his reality design series appearance. Xavier explains, “When I was younger, I didn’t have money to buy unique clothes, so I’d go into my closet and rework everything. There wasn’t anything in my closet that I hadn’t touched or altered. That’s when I realized I needed to take it to the next level and learn everything about it.”
His journey is far from conventional, and as he takes on new challenges, he’s now teaming up with Meta AI for something unexpected—redefining game-day fashion for the University of Texas and football fans everywhere. “It was more of a life decision that brought me into fashion,” describes Xavier.
“I’d been playing football since I was around 10 years old, through pee wee football, and I even had scholarships. But I realized I didn’t want to be a football player anymore. I wasn’t into working out or the lifestyle. Plus, I was injured a couple of times.”
“That’s when I realized football wasn’t for me. I started feeling more fashion – dressing differently, and that’s when I knew I needed to find something else I was passionate about. As soon as the football season ended, there was an after-school program that introduced me to styling, modeling, and designing. I dove deep into it, and that’s when I decided to go to school for this.”
Today, Xavier is coming of age in fashion, using Meta AI and how it enhances his approach to football and college pride and his fashion design. This collaboration with Meta comes through their “Super Fan” campaign, a movement aimed at tapping into the passions of sports enthusiasts while integrating Meta AI’s capabilities to enhance their experiences.
Xavier states, “I’m super excited to be part of this. You know, continuing to work with Meta, especially on this project, feels like it speaks to my story — how I started in football and then transitioned into fashion. And now we’re bringing this AI tech approach to it, and it’s super helpful to the process and everything.”
“It cuts out so much of the time you’d usually spend searching for things. I can ask what colorways work together, and AI will give me color theory. For this project, I could ask, ‘What are the key things that make you a Super Fan of UT Austin?’ It will give me answers like the longhorns and the “hook-’em-horns” signal. It even gave me textures to play with for the sweatsuit. When my friend is busy, I can go to Meta AI, and it’ll give me those second ideas instantly.”
In Xavier’s case, the fusion of technology and fashion uniquely manifests itself. For Nigel, this partnership is personal. A football superfan, he’s leveraging Meta AI to create a fashion-forward patchwork sweatsuit for the University of Texas at Austin. This isn’t just any outfit—it’s a reimagining of game-day style, infused with the cultural pride and tradition that college football brings.
“I think this is going to be key for people keeping up in such a fast-paced industry,” Xavier predicts. “It cuts time on finding inspiration – and helps with sustainability because you can work through ideas without wasting materials. I haven’t felt like AI is overstepping my natural creativity. It’s just making it easier [for us] to expand on ideas we might not think of naturally. It’s like a superpower, and everyone will have access to it, so it’s all about what you do with that power.”
“I’m naturally intuitive, so, it aligns perfectly with what I do – make me stronger in what I have to do.” Xavier’s role in Meta’s “Super Fan” campaign is part of a larger initiative to showcase how AI can deepen the fan experience. From connecting superfans to their favorite athletes to offering creative ways to express team loyalty, Meta AI is empowering users across the spectrum.
“Growing up, I’ve experienced all those college football moments, but for this project, I haven’t been able to experience the energy of UT Austin firsthand. AI helped me capture that. It was like a cheat code, helping me become a super fan and understand their culture.” Whether through customized recipes for a football watch party courtesy of rapper Action Bronson, or AI-driven sports trivia with Texas football stars, the campaign is opening up new ways for fans to engage with their passions and creatives to engage with their fans.
Austin, TX
Bread winners: 10 Austin bakeries you'll love
Craving something sweet? Maybe something flaky? Austin may be known for tacos and barbecue, but its bakeries are the unsung heroes of the local food scene. We think it’s time to give them the spotlight they deserve.
Whether you’re looking for pastries by day or celebratory cakes by night, these locally owned bakeries are proof that life is butter with carbs.
Comadre Panadería, 1204 Cedar Ave. | Try something new at this Mexican-American bakery (which is a two-time James Beard semi-finalist) like the highly raved-about concha and pink cake.
La Pâtisserie, multiple locations | A case full of colorful macarons is the main attraction at this French bakery, which also offers pastries, cake, scones, buns, croissants, and wine.
Quack’s Bakery, multiple locations | Keeping Austin sweet since 1983, these beloved bakeries make pies, cakes, pastries, and more from scratch with no additives. Be sure to check out seasonal offerings like Pride, Halloween, and Christmas-themed cookies.
Rockman Coffee + Bakeshop, 2400 E. Cesar Chavez St., Ste. #200 | Owned by award-winning pastry chef Amanda Rockman, this newly opened bakeshop is all about caffeine, gluten, butter, sugar, and booze. Grab a rip ‘n’ dip bagel, strawberry cheesecake croissant, or focaccia sandwich.
Sour Duck Market, 1814 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | The neighborhood bakery within this American restaurant + beer garden is not to be missed. Snag a traditional bite like a savory Danish pastry or a creative concoction like the sweet potato-chai bearclaw.
Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop, 1905 S. 1st St. | Desserts are king at this sugary locale that offers classic cupcakes, cookies, lemon + pecan bars, cakes, and mini-pies in-store, with custom offerings available for larger orders.
Texas French Bread, 2900 Rio Grande St. | Currently housed in an Airstream trailer, this small but mighty bakery (serving Austinites since 1981) sells goods on a first-come, first-served basis. You’ll have to visit in person to see the full menu of bread, pastries, and sweets available each day.
Upper Crust Bakery, 4508 Burnet Rd. | This family-owned scratch bakery has it all, whether you want a cup of coffee and a pastry, a smoked turkey sandwich for lunch, or a layered cake to take home and enjoy.
Walton’s Fancy & Staple, 609 W. 6th St. | Amid a cluster of bars on West 6th Street, this bakery + deli owned by Sandra Bullock is a beacon of sweetness. Its pastries and sweet treats are made daily, but you can also order custom cakes.
Zucchini Kill Bakery, multiple locations | Calling all vegan, gluten, and soy-free folks with a sweet tooth. This woman-owned bakery is a haven for those with dietary restrictions and incorporates the spirit of punk music into its delicacies.
What’s your favorite bakery in Austin? Let us know and we might add it to this list in the future.
Austin, TX
Texas Longhorns Release First Injury Report vs. Kentucky Wildcats
AUSTIN — The Texas Longhorns and Kentucky Wildcats have released their initial student-athlete availability report ahead of Saturday’s meeting in Austin.
Texas is listing receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. as questionable due to a foot injury while linebacker Morice Blackwell Jr. is questionable after sitting out for the 20-10 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks last week.
“He’s progressing this week,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said of Moore Jr. during Wednesday’s SEC Weekly Teleconference. “We’ll see if he’ll be ready to go here Saturday, but we’re surely a better team when he’s out there.”
Fortunately for Texas, running back Jaydon Blue was not listed on the report after being seen in a sling following the Arkansas game.
Here’s the full report for both teams:
Sarkisian provided an injury update on Moore Jr., Blue and Blackwell Jr. on Monday during his weekly press conference.
“I think Blue’s good,” Sarkisian said. “Like I said, he went with us today and worked this morning. So we’ll see how it goes. … Mo Blackwell was out last week. … I’m hopeful we can get him back this week. We’ll see how it goes. … DeAndre got nicked up during the game with a foot injury. Again, those two guys (Blackwell) are integral parts to our program, not only on offense and defense, but on special teams. They’re critical. So hopefully we get both those guys back.”
No. 3 Texas and Kentucky will kick off from DKR on Saturday at
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Austin, TX
UT Energy Expertise To Guide New Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub, Bolster U.S. Energy Supply
AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin will partner with industry and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations to build and expand a hub for hydrogen energy production along the Texas Gulf Coast that will help increase and diversify the nation’s energy supply. UT serves as founding member and lead academic organization.
The HyVelocity Hub (HyV), a regional energy consortium, aims to become the largest hydrogen hub in the nation. It will leverage the region’s high concentration of existing hydrogen production and end-use assets to develop low-carbon intensity hydrogen that can power trucks, industrial processes, ammonia production, refining and petrochemical production, and marine shipping fuel.
“Texas is the nation’s energy capital, and UT is the energy university, and we are no stranger to playing a leading role in America’s energy innovation,” said UT President Jay Hartzell. “The success of the HyVelocity Hydrogen Hub is critical to our nation’s future energy security. We are excited to work with our industry partners and apply our vast energy, business and policy expertise to develop the hydrogen workforce and accelerate production along the Gulf Coast.”
UT will provide expertise to support community benefits activities and hydrogen workforce development efforts. UT, through the IC2 Institute and the RESET lab in the Cockrell School of Engineering, has a significant track record of working with over 80 communities in Texas and bordering states to understand community needs and connect these to economic development initiatives to improve the lives of all community members. The hydrogen proto-hub demonstration facility at the Center for Electromechanics will serve as a key resource for hands-on workforce training activities. UT researchers will also conduct life-cycle and techno-economic analyses for the projects. For example, they will provide the analyses required for meeting emissions criteria, clean hydrogen standards, and cost benchmarks, and will report these data to the Department of Energy.
“UT Austin’s role in the HyVelocity Hydrogen Hub will be vital to both providing the research and expertise needed to accelerate the global market for hydrogen, and to developing the workforce needed to support the industry’s advancement over the long term in Texas and the Gulf Coast,” said Brian Korgel, the Rashid Engineering Regents Chair Professor in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering and the director of the UT Energy Institute. “We are proud to be part of this important project that will advance secure and sustainable energy in the U.S. and all over the world.”
HyV’s work will be at the forefront of maintaining and expanding Texas as a global leader in hydrogen energy development. With $22 million in the first tranche of funding, HyVelocity is expected to create up to 45,000 well-paying jobs over its lifetime and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 7 million metric tons per year — equivalent to the annual emissions of more than 1.5 million gasoline-powered cars. The Department of Energy is investing $1.2 billion in the project.
As the nation’s premier university for energy innovation and excellence, UT brings an unmatched scale, depth and breadth of expertise and a pragmatic approach to advancing solutions across the full spectrum of energy. Situated in the heart of Texas, UT is in the center of the energy capital of the world. The University boasts numerous top-10 academic programs and a vast community of minds spanning a multitude of energy departments, centers and institutes. UT’s extensive industry partnerships and field research extend from the oil fields of West Texas to the other side of the world, with faculty, students and staff engaged in applied research in hydrogen, carbon capture, wind, solar, batteries and more.
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