(Oct. 20, 2009) - Local student, Bryce Black, will represent The Art Institute of Portland in The Humane Society of the United States' fifth annual Cool vs. Cruel Fashion Design Competition. Cool vs. Cruel challenges students enrolled in The Art Institutes Fashion Design programs throughout North America to improve a runway look by Burberry, Thakoon, Michael Kors or Alexander McQueen, by finding creative ways to replace and reinterpret the use of animal fur.
Originally from Twin Falls, Idaho, Black moved to Portland three years ago to begin classes at The Art Institute of Portland. He sought to create a garment made of accessible materials with the intent of recycling and having as little additional eco-impact as possible. The primary material is post-consumer denim jeans and denim scrap, to which only zippers, elastic and fabric paint were added. Recycling these castaways would be cruelty-free and earth friendly.
"Bryce created a fashion-forward piece from recycled jeans," Sue Bonde, Academic Department Director for Apparel Accessory Design, Apparel Design and Fashion Marketing. "He treated the body of the dress to resemble leather, and ruffled the edges of a collar/sleeve piece to resemble fur in texture. I am very pleased by Bryce's innovative use of materials for his entry."
Black is among the 16 local finalists who were chosen out of more than 100 entries to compete for the top prize nationally. Their entries will be judged by a panel of fashion industry judges including designers Marc Bouwer, Charlotte Ronson, Victoria Bartlett, Nick Friedberg and Elizabeth Olsen; magazine editors Dana Wood, Mickey Boardman and Shelly Vella; and renowned fashion photographer Nigel Barker. The grand-prize winner will receive a trip to New York City for the award presentation on Nov. 11, as well as an expense paid, weeklong internship during NY Fashion Week with celebrated fur-free designer Victoria Bartlett.
"This contest allows future professional designers to show major designers like Michael Kors or Alexander McQueen that not only is fur unnecessary, but that there are more creative and aesthetically pleasing design options on the table for those with an innovative eye and a compassionate fashion philosophy," said Sarika Reuben, deputy manager of the HSUS' fur-free campaign. "
Learn more at humanesociety.org/coolvscruel or http://www.artinstitutes.edu/pr.aspx?ID=ai1007 .
Media contact: The HSUS - Heather Sullivan: 301.548.7778; hsullivan@humanesociety.org
The Art Institute of Portland - Emily Wyant: 503.382.4722; ewyant@aii.edu