2009 Cool vs. Cruel Fashion Design Competition

Fashion Design student Joe Sarfo has been chosen to represent The Art Institute of Philadelphia at the 2009 Cool vs. Cruel Fashion Design competition sponsored by The Humane Society of the United States.

Cool vs. Cruel is an annual competition that encourages fashion design students enrolled in The Art Institutes in North America to produce fur-free, animal-friendly garments by using their creativity to replace animal fur in fashion.

View a Slideshow of the Cool Vs. Cruel 2009 Fashion Designs by Students at The Art Institute of Philadelphia

Pictured: Fashion Design student Joe Sarfo's entry for the Cool vs. Cruel competition
Model: Marie Wolf
Photo: Chelsea Wertz

Students in Assistant Professor James Morningstar's Advanced Draping (FD31012) class were challenged to re-interpret and improve four haute couture garments of a well-known label or designer by using fur-free fabrics and materials instead.

The students showed their designs to a panel of judges on September 15, 2009. The winners in the national competition will be determined by a panel of industry professionals on October 23 and announced in November.

The grand prize winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City for the awards ceremony and an all-expenses-paid five day internship with an acclaimed fashion designer involved in The Humane Society's Fur-Free Campaign.

The following students participated in the local 2009 Cool vs. Cruel Fashion Design competition: Jessica Baugh, Courtney Brown, Elisha Carter, Nia Cobb, Alyssa DuVal, Adweena Justice, De'Shawna Phillips, Joe Sarfo, Alice Scanlan, Keith Wiggins, Regina Yecco