Local student Melinda “Yasmina” Johnston will represent The Art Institute of Dallas in The Humane Society of the United States’ fourth annual Cool vs. Cruel fashion competition. The Cool vs. Cruel competition inspires students enrolled in The Art Institutes’ fashion programs in its schools across North America to produce fur-free, animal-friendly fashions by using their own creativity to replace animal fur.
Johnston’s garment is a 100 percent virgin cotton full-body canvas coat with padded detailing.
“With her entry, Yasmina makes a strong statement that you don’t need fur to draw attention to a garment,” said Donna Sapp, academic director of fashion design at The Art Institute of Dallas. “With the right attention to detail, simple cotton can be a show stopper!”
The competition continues to grow in popularity among students at The Art Institutes. Johnston, a native of Carrollton, Texas, is among the 15 local finalists who were chosen out of more than 150 entries to compete for the top prize nationally. Their entries will be judged by a star-studded panel of judges, including celebrities and top designers. The grand prize winner will receive a trip to New York City for the Nov. 13 award presentation and an all-expenses paid, week-long internship during New York Fashion Week with a celebrated fur-free designer. The HSUS is co-hosting the award presentation with Nigel Barker, world-renowned fashion photographer and judge on “America’s Next Top Model.”
“This contest gives young designers the opportunity to showcase their compassion and talent through cruelty-free, fashion-forward design,” said Kristin Leppert, director of the Fur-Free Campaign for The Humane Society of the United States. “Today’s consumers don’t want to buy a garment that might have been ripped off the back of a conscious animal. These students join an ever-growing list of designers and retailers who reject the cruelty of fur production. We applaud their pledge to make compassion their fashion.”
Learn more at www.humanesociety.org/coolvscruel or www.artinstitutes.edu/coolvcruel.
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Media contact: The HSUS – Heather Sullivan: 301.548.7778; hsullivan@humanesociety.org
The Art Institute of Dallas –Sarah Stockton: 469.587.1249; sstockton@aii.edu
About The Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization – backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at www.humanesociety.org.
About The Art Institutes
The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu) is a system of more than 40 locations throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.