Fifteen Finalists Announced in Nationwide Fashion Design Contest

October 10, 2008

Cool vs. Cruel Competition Sponsored by The Humane Society of the United States in Partnership with The Art Institutes

Fifteen students from The Art Institutes have been chosen to represent their school in The Humane Society of the United States' fourth annual Cool vs. Cruel fashion competition. The Cool vs. Cruel competition inspires design students enrolled in The Art Institutes' fashion design programs in its schools across North America to produce fur-free, animal-friendly fashions by using their own creativity to replace animal fur.

The competition continues to grow in popularity among students at The Art Institutes. The 15 local finalists 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, weeklong 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."

"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."

Winners have been announced as follows:

• Xuefeng Chang, The Art Institute of Portland
• Lyndsey Hayes, The Art Institute of Seattle
• Sarah Hunter, The Art Institute of of California – Hollywood
• Melinda "Yasmina" Johnston, The Art Institute of Dallas
• Rebecca Joseph, The Art Institute of Charlotte
• Tania Mello, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
• Megan Pasnak, The Art Institute of Vancouver
• Jessica Pinney, The Art Institute of California – Orange County
• Gohar Rajabzadeh, Miami International University of Art & Design
• Wajeeha Sarfraz, The Art Institute of Philadelphia
• Alex Snyder, The Art Institute of New York City
• Danielle Tilford, The Art Institute of California – San Francisco
• Brandin Vaughn, The Illinois Institute of Art
• Aaron Wardwell, The Art Institute of Indianapolis
• Tatiana Zaykovskaya, The Art Institute of California – San Diego

 Learn more at humanesociety.org/coolvscruel or artinstitutes.edu/coolvcruel.

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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 humanesociety.org.

The Art Institutes (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.