Finalist from The Art Institute of New York City Announced in Nationwide Fashion Design Contest

Cool vs. Cruel Competition Sponsored by The Humane Society of the United States in Partnership with The Art Institutes 
 
Student Alex Snyder will represent The Art Institute of New York City 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.

Snyder’s entry is a cotton, cropped-shoulder, navy blue, A-line dress with a stand collar. It has olive green on the inverted box pleats.  
 
According to Fan Wu, fashion design instructor who worked with Alex, “We have a winner worth our efforts.”

Snyder, a native of Boca Raton, FL, is among the 15 local finalists who were chosen out of more than 150 entries to compete for the top prize nationally. Alex grew up in Boca Raton, and attended Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach.  He attended The Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale for two years, before deciding to move to New York City.

Winning local 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-expense paid, week-long internship during New York Fashion Week with a celebrated fur-free designer. The award presentation will be co-hosted by Nigel Barker, world-renowned fashion photographer and judge on “America’s Next Top Model.”  
 
The competition continues to grow in popularity among students at The Art Institutes. “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.”