The Humane Society of the United States & The Art Institutes Announce Cool vs. Cruel Fashion Competition Winners
WASHINGTON – Today, The Humane Society of the United States and The Art Institutes announced the winners of the annual Cool vs. Cruel fur-free fashion design competition.
In its fourth year, The Cool vs. Cruel Competition educates the future generation of designers enrolled in The Art Institutes fashion programs about the cruelty of the fur industry, and encourages these designers to explore fur-free, animal-friendly fashions as a viable alternative.
Gohar Rajabzadeh from Miami International University of Art & Design was named this year's grand prize winner. Rajabzadeh's winning design is a faux-fur coat. In place of what would have been animal fur, she used acrylic yarns to give the same luxurious look in a wrap coat with a full hood that frames the face.
"These winning garments prove that couture and fur-free designs go hand in hand," said Heidi Prescott, senior vice president of campaigns for The Humane Society of the United States. "By using animal-friendly materials in such a fashion-forward way, these student designers are emulating the many fashion icons who refuse to participate in the cruelty inherent in the fur industry."
According to Bruce E. Dempsey, vice president, academic affairs specialist for The Art Institutes, Cool vs. Cruel gives students "an opportunity to demonstrate their passion for fashion design and their ability to be resourceful, creative and imaginative in the way they design, without harming animals."
Rajabzadeh will receive a trip to the Cool vs. Cruel awards ceremony and a five-day internship during New York Fashion Week with an acclaimed fur-free fashion designer. Second place winner Tatiana Zaykovskaya from The Art Institute of California – San Diego will receive a $600 cash award. Third place winner Melinda Johnston from The Art Institute of Dallas will receive a $400 cash award.
The awards ceremony to celebrate the student designers and their winning garments will be held in New York City on Wednesday, Nov. 12 from 7-9 p.m. at the Bowery Hotel at 335 Bowery, and will be attended by many of the celebrity judges. (By invitation only, please email requests to hsus@seventhhousepr.com).
Celebrity judges and honorary committee members for this year's competition include: Ann-Dexter Jones, Brittany Murphy, Betsey Johnson, Benjamin Cho, Charlotte Ronson, The Donnas, Kate Bosworth, Lady Bunny, Loden Dager, Maggie Rizer, Maroon 5, Milla Jovovich, Mickey Boardman, Monet Mazur, Nicky Hilton, Nigel Barker, Rain Phoenix, Samantha Ronson, Steven Klein, Suede and Victoria Bartlett.
The 15 finalists' garments will be on display at the Nov.12 awards ceremony. To view the entries, and learn more about the Cool vs. Cruel Competition visit: the Art Institute or The HSUS' Web sites. The public can also vote for their favorite design at humanesociety.org/cvcvote08 until Nov. 11, with the winner being crowned "Cool vs. Cruel People's Choice."
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The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu) is a system of more than 40 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.
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 animal cruelty—On the web at humanesociety.org.
