Dallas Student Selected as Finalist in Fur-Free Design Contest
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The Humane Society of the United States and The Art Institutes sponsor Cool vs. Cruel Fashion Design Competition
(DALLAS, Nov 8, 2012) — Dallas resident Jonathan Hayden, a student in the Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design program, will represent The Art Institute of Dallas, a campus of South University, in the eighth annual Cool vs. Cruel Fashion Design Competition. Hayden’s design was selected from his school to advance as a finalist in the nationwide competition. Hayden is one of 19 finalists from across North America who will compete in the fur-free fashion design competition sponsored by The Humane Society of the United States and The Art Institutes.
“This competition gives The Humane Society of the United States an opportunity to educate the next generation of designers about the cruelties associated with the fur industry,” said Michelle McDonald, fashion outreach manager of the fur-free campaign for The HSUS. “It inspires them to create beautiful, cruelty-free alternatives.”
Cool vs. Cruel challenges fashion students at The Art Institutes schools throughout the United States and Vancouver to creatively reinterpret and replace animal fur on runway designs by Marc Jacobs, J. Mendel, BCBGMAXAZARIA and Jean-Paul Gaultier.
“We are proud to partner with The Humane Society of the United States in the Cool vs. Cruel Fashion Design Competition, which offers our students an incredible opportunity to support an important cause and to show their creativity and skill in a national arena,” said Thomas Newsom, president of The Art Institute of Dallas.
The Humane Society of the United States awards each finalist, including Hayden, a cash prize in addition to being entered into the national competition. The national grand-prize winner will receive an expense-paid, week-long internship in New York City with a celebrated designer from the panel of judges.
The judges’ panel consists of professionals from the fashion industry, including designers John Bartlett, Victoria Bartlett, Anna Fortino, Leanne Hilgart, Nary Manivong, Elizabeth Olsen, PAPER magazine editor Mickey Boardman, Founder and President of Donna Salyers’ Fabulous Furs Donna Salyers, writer and reporter Nell Alk and The Discerning Brute blog founder Joshua Katcher.
Hayden said, “I entered this competition because understanding our roles as human beings and that our actions have an immediate effect on our environment is paramount. Fashion can still be had without the torture and murder of innocent animals.”
Photos of Hayden and his design are available upon request or can be viewed on the Facebook page of the Fur-Free campaign: https://www.facebook.com/HSUSFurFree.
Learn more about the contest, view the original runway looks and The Humane Society of the United States fur-free campaign at humanesociety.org/coolvscruel. To learn more about The Art Institutes, visit artinstitutes.edu.
Media Contacts:
The Art Institutes:
Natalia Derevyanny
nderevyanny@aii.edu
312.777.8640
Yasmin Hosseinzadeh
yhosseinzadeh@aii.edu
312.777.8641
The Humane Society of the United States:
Kaitlin Sanderson
301.721.6463
ksanderson@humanesociety.org
About The Art Institute of Dallas
The Art Institute of Dallas, a campus of South University, is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of more than 50 schools located throughout North America. The Art Institutes schools provide an important source of education for design, media arts, fashion and culinary professionals. Several institutions included in The Art Institutes system are campuses of South University or Argosy University. See aiprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees, and other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success, and other important info.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization. For more than a half-century The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. We are supported by more than 11 million Americans. The HSUS - Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty. On the Web at humanesociety.org.