Friday, May 26, 2006

Academy Award: Nordstrom Selects Three School of Fashion Students


On May 2, 2006, Nordstrom announced their Nordstrom Product Group Design Internship Program winners with all three coveted positions awarded to Academy of Art University School of Fashion students.

The competition entailed forecasting future Ready-To-Wear (RTW) trends by analyzing Haute Couture. Students were then assigned sketchbook development work for the women’s contemporary target market using the Fall/Winter 2006 season. This included a written description of their design concept, visual research, fabric, trim and color information, and croquis in color.

Designs were then selected from their croquis with collections revised and edited before developing their final presentation of four complete outfits that were then presented to Nordstrom.

The three students chosen are:

MFA Fashion Design student Yoshimi Fukazawa who will be designing for Halogen, a Nordstrom private label womenswear brand aimed towards a younger customer.

BFA Fashion Design student Laila Ghorban who will be designing for Caslon, a Nordstrom private label womenswear brand.

BFA Fashion Design student Joon Pak who will be designing accessories.

Linda Marie Tiliano, Nordstrom Recruiting, revealed the good news and thanked the School of Fashion students, as everyone at Nordstrom “was definitely impressed in the caliber of Academy of Art University students and the design talent from conception to technical abilities was quite evident.” She added that, “ the professionalism and passion your students have for their craft clearly came across. We are extremely excited to have them join our Nordstrom family!”

The competition also included students from Seattle Central Community College, Seattle Art Institute, and Seattle Pacific University.

Nordstrom internships are paid and open to college juniors and seniors lasting for eight to ten weeks through the summer. Interns receive training in management, coaching and leadership while gaining insight to the many roles and career paths available in the retail industry.

Nordstrom has grown from one downtown Seattle shoe store into a nationwide fashion specialty chain with renowned services, generous size ranges and a selection of the finest apparel, shoes and accessories for all ages. The company's philosophy has remained unchanged for more than 100 years since its establishment by John W. Nordstrom in 1901: offer the customer the best possible service, selection, quality and value.

Nordstrom is a Hall of Fame member of FORTUNE Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list.

Thursday, May 25, 2006

May 24, 2006 Fashion Show Attendees

Alexander McQueen waving to the cheering students.
Rosalie Huang, Creative Director of Vogue China and Vogue Taiwan; Alexander McQueen; and Dr. Elisa Stephens

Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and Podium boutique owner Sonya Molodetskaya
Wilkes Bashford and Parisian retailer Maria Luisa Poumaillou
Jeanne Beker of Fashion Television with Alexander McQueen.
Alexander McQueen viewing Elieza S. Perez's portfolio.
Sallie Huntting, EVP of Public Relations for Academy of Art University, and Bill Bigler, VP Fashion Director of Macy's West.
Monica Schweiger of Women's Wear Daily and fashion designer Michael Boris
Christine Suppes, Editor in Chief and Publisher, Fashion Lines.com and Alexander McQueen

Other attendees included Gene Krell, International Fashion Director of Conde Nast Asia; Rosalie Huang, Creative Director of Vogue China and Vogue Taiwan; Parisian retailer Maria Luisa Poumaillou; Monica Schweiger of Women’s Wear Daily, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, Jeanne Beker of Fashion Television; Christine Suppes and Sedef Kokcuoglu of FashionLines.com who later hosted the evening’s after-party at Post Rio.

Coverage appeared in Women’s Wear Daily, Fashion Wire Daily, Vogue.co.uk, Yahoo! News, Associated Press, California Apparel News, Russian L’Officiel, and Worth Global Style Network (WGSN.com), among others.

May 24, 2006 Men of Fashion

On Wednesday, May 24th 2006, the Academy of Art University in San Francisco honored the ‘Men of Fashion’ and presented the School of Fashion graduate collections of the Class of 2006 in the historical Morgan Auditorium. President Dr. Elisa Stephens hosted the occasion and presented honorary doctorates to Alexander McQueen, Christophe Girard, Robert L. Mettler, and Wilkes Bashford. In addition to receiving their honors, these noted ‘Men of Fashion’ selected graduate stars for internships and honors.

Alexander McQueen and Dr. Elisa Stephens, President of Academy of Art University

Alexander McQueen, celebrated fashion designer, whose numerous awards include CFDA International Designer of the Year and Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty the Queen, received his honorary doctorate and thanked our own Simon Ungless, Director of Graduate Fashion, as Ungless collaborated with McQueen on eight collections before joining the Academy of Art University. "I think I owe a lot of thanks to Simon Ungless who I was at St. Martins with," said McQueen. "We studied together at St. Martins about 15 years ago. We actually started off working on prints. I am a bit jet lagged but it's worth it. I'm just very honored."

Alexander McQueen and JiWon Ree

Alexander McQueen chose three graduates to intern with him in his London studio for three months. They are BFA Knitwear Design Graduate JiWon Ree, BFA Fashion Design Graduate Alexandra Armstrong Igleheart, and BFA Fashion Design Graduate Stephanie Weaver.

Christophe Girard, Deputy Mayor of Paris Responsible for Culture, and Director of Fashion Strategy of the LVMH Fashion Group, one of the biggest fashion conglomerates internationally, is also an award-winning producer of documentaries, a tireless AIDS activist, Greenpeace member, and even lived in our beloved city of San Francisco in 1977.
Dr. Elisa Stephens, Yan Li Zhu, and M. Girard

M. Girard chose BFA Knitwear Design Graduate Yan Li Zhu to intern for three months in Paris working at Louis Vuitton women’s RTW with fashion designer Marc Jacobs.

M. Girard also selected three graduates based on their portfolios that he viewed during the Static Exhibition before the show and whose collections were not on the runway to also intern at LVMH in Paris. He announced to the audience and the three graduates that he would “have to find a way” but would “work it out for 2007.” The three are:
o Pablo Fernandez, a MFA Fashion & Knitwear Design graduate who will showcase his graduate menswear collection with his fellow MFA graduates during September 2006 New York Fashion Week in the IMG / 7th on Sixth Bryant Park Tents.
o Adrian Chang, BFA Fashion Design graduate.
o Soraruk Tikaphanya, BFA Fashion Design graduate.

Since 1998, Academy of Art University has been involved with The Sister City Scholarship Exchange with Studio Berçot and L’Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, two of the best fashion schools in Paris. Gladys Perint Palmer began this exchange at the suggestion of then San Francisco Mayor Willie Lewis Brown Jr., and the program has been flourishing ever since with Academy of Art University students going to Paris for one full year and students from both Studio Berçot and L’Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne attending Academy of Art University. This year's Academy of Art University scholarship recipient is BFA Fashion Design Graduate Anna Arguello.

LinkRobert L. Mettler and Dr. Elisa Stephens

Robert L. Mettler, Chairman and CEO of Macy’s West, is a 30-year retailing veteran who served as Sears, Roebuck & Co.’s President of Merchandising for all full-line stores, President and CEO of Robinson’s in Los Angeles, as well as in various positions with Allied Stores Corporation and May Department Stores Company.

Mr. Mettler chose collections to be showcased in the 24th Annual Macy’s Passport Fashion Extravaganza: an evening of fashion and compassion to be held in both San Francisco from September 19-21 and Los Angeles on September 28 and 29. Passport has raised nearly $22 million to date. This is the School of Fashion’s 2nd year of involvement.

“At Macy’s, we’re always looking for what’s new and fresh in fashion” says Mettler. “We’re proud to support the School of Fashion’s up-and-coming designers who exemplify the creativity and innovation that Macy’s encourages and personify the future of fashion. These students pour their hearts into their work, and will go on to do great things in the exciting world of fashion.”

Wilkes Bashford and Dr. Elisa Stephens

Wilkes Bashford, the man who “made Sutter Street” with his successful flagship store, is hailed by Esquire as “The Most Important Men’s Fashion Specialist in the Country.” His awards include Cutty Sark Award for the Best Men’s Store, Uomo Moda Collections Award for Italian Menswear in America and the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame.
After viewing BFA Fashion Design Graduate Yana Galbshtein’s collection of wearable elegance, Mr. Bashford chose her to intern at KITON in Naples, Italy for three months where she will work in both men’s and womenswear.

Mr. Bashford also selected collections to showcase in his flagship store at 375 Sutter Street for a two-week period. This honor is from the man who is credited with introducing Ralph Lauren to the West Coast. Graduate collections included those of:
o Yan Li Zhu, BFA Knitwear Design graduate.
o Anna Arguello, BFA Fashion Design graduate.
o Marlene Pixley, BFA Textile Design graduate.
o Jung-Eun 'Jay' Kim, MFA Fashion and Knitwear graduate.
o Ji Won Ree, BFA Knitwear Design graduate.
o Brooke Murphy, BFA Fashion Design, who collaborated with Olga Henry, BFA Knitwear Design.
o Abigail McCannon, BFA Fashion Design graduate.
o Alexandra Armstrong Igleheart, BFA Fashion Design graduate.
o Yana Galbshtein, BFA Fashion Design graduate.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

May 24, 2006 Fashion Show Yan Li Zhu

BFA Knitwear Design Graduate Yan Li Zhu took the Japanese Samurai from animation and translated the shapes into a womenswear collection that won her an internship in Paris at LVMH to work with Marc Jacobs.











May 24, 2006 Fashion Show Heather Guevarra

BFA Fashion Design Graduate Heather Guevarra was inspired by 1940s Hollywood glamour and the corseted hourglass look which she emphasized with padded bras and hips.



May 24, 2006 Fashion Show Kyung Sun Han

BFA Fashion Design Graduate Kyung Sun Han visited Venice, Italy and found the loneliness and starkness of this beloved city as inspiration for her collection.





May 24, 2006 Fashion Show Anna Arguello

BFA Fashion Design Graduate Anna Arguello was inspired by Gothic cathedrals and architectural shapes.






May 24, 2006 Fashion Show Collaboration Brooke Murphy and Olga Mashkova-Henry

BFA Fashion Design Graduate Brooke Murphy collaborated with BFA Knitwear Design Graduate Olga Mashkova-Henry using snow queens as their inspiration. The braches of the tree representing a woman and the snow as her garments.