Fashion School News: Academy Award Fashion Group Foundation Scholarship Winner

Alyssa Prentice, BFA Fashion Design student, has been selected to receive a scholarship from the Fashion Group Foundation. Only two are selected each year. At the next Fashion Group International meeting, Alyssa will be introduced to the members and presented with a check.

Alyssa is currently working on her collection to be shown next April in San Francisco.

Shannon Galati, 2007 BFA Fashion Design graduate, was selected last year.

Fashion School News Academy Award: Nordstrom Selects Two School of Fashion Students For 2007 Summer Internship Program

By Artist Kate Kavnevik.


Two School of Fashion students will spend the summer in Seattle designing for private label lines in the Nordstrom Product Group Design Summer Internship Program. BFA Fashion Design student Anh Luong will design for Caslon, a Nordstrom private label womenswear brand of comfortable, casual weekend wear, and BFA Fashion Design student Laura Pazin will design for the Accessories Department.

The competition entailed creating a women’s contemporary line for the Fall/Winter 2007 season. Students created presentations that included a written description of their design concept with visual, fabric, trim and color research, as well as illustrations and flat technical designs.

Linda Marie Tiliano, Nordstrom Recruiting, “was extremely pleased with the design talents” from the School of Fashion. The competition included students from Academy of Art University, Parsons and Otis.

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.

In 2006, three School of Fashion students were selected. MFA Fashion Design student Yoshimi Fukazawa designed for Halogen, a Nordstrom private label womenswear brand aimed towards a younger customer, BFA Fashion Design student Laila Ghorban designed for Caslon, and BFA Fashion Design student Joon Pak designed accessories.

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.

Fashion Textile School News Academy Award: Ya-Ling Hou Wins Grand Prize For Surtex 2007 International Student Design Competition

The winners and honorable mentions of the SURTEX® 2007 International Student Design Competition have been selected in four new categories: Home Interior, Hospitality (Restaurant/Lodging), Housewares/Tabletop and Stationery/Paper Products. A jury of design industry professionals selected winners of this year’s competition, themed “Nature’s Inspiration,” from some 90 entrants representing 27 schools worldwide.

“It is exciting to see the energy, creativity and innovative concepts that this competition inspires in art and design students from around the world,” said Gina DeLuca, show manager. “SURTEX is proud to nurture and encourage these young designers with a professional challenge early on in their careers, and to reward and honor their vision, talent and fresh ideas.”

The Grand Prize was awarded to Ya-Ling Hou, Academy of Art University, San Francisco CA, for Lovely Garden, inspired by the soothing “sunny and breezy feeling” and “flower wave” that she experiences during afternoons in her own garden. Hou’s Stationery/Paper Products designs include gift boxes and bags, wrapping paper, photo albums, journals and notecards. Her project won for its compelling designs, beautiful use of color and distinctive prints. Judges singled out her work for its outstanding presentation, excellent mixture of color and pattern, and “high-level, market-ready” quality. Hou will receive a $1,000 cash prize and a trip to the 2007 edition of SURTEX, including round trip transportation and hotel accommodations, plus a one week internship within the design industry.

Jungmin Choi for Urban Green and Henry D. Reyes for Lost City Hotel received honorable mentions for their outstanding design submissions.

A jury of design industry professionals selected winners and honorable mentions based on surface design development; creativity, style and use of color and pattern; potential for viability in the commercial marketplace; and overall presentation. Judges for the SURTEX 2007 Competition were Britt Bivins, director, Promostyl Americas; Dorothy Cosonas, creative director, Knoll Textiles; Gordon Kaye, publisher/editor, Graphic Design; Bingka Leung, managing design director, Dwell; Jane Wicks, design director, Designtex.

The SURTEX International Student Design Competition is open to all third and fourth year students enrolled in a surface design or related program in an institution of higher learning. Students were challenged to create a collection of coordinating surface designs (minimum six, maximum nine), inspired by nature, within one category and with a specific end use in mind. The collection had to be themed and the designs original. Students are invited to create the surface designs in the medium(s) of their choice.

Fashion School News Academy Award: 2007 CFDA Scholarship Awards

The CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) awards scholarships each year. This year's $3,000 Award Winners are Dahae Kim and Kara Laricks from the School of Fashion. Daniel Emir Armosilla received an Honorable Mention.

The CFDA is devoted to supporting and nurturing new and emerging design talent. The CFDA’s Educational Initiatives were established to assist aspiring designers in the high school, collegiate, post-graduate, and early stages of their careers. The goal of the four Educational Initiative programs is to ease the transition from student to professional designer. In order to best serve the interests of its different constituent groups, the CFDA operates a Scholarship Program, a Master Program, and Professional Development Program, which includes the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund.

Academy Award: Fashion Internships Awarded at April Show

Dr. Elisa Stephens, President of the University, Jenny Schweitzberger and Zac Posen.
Photo by Bob Toy.

Jenny Schweitzberger and Lene Secher Andersen on stage after being chosen to work with fashion designers Zac Posen and Loulou de la Falaise. Photo by Scotty Morris.

Zac Posen chose Jenny Schweitzberger to work with him over the summer in his New York Studios. Photo by Scotty Morris.

Academy Award: 2007 Target/CFDA Design Initiative

2007 Award Results for the Target/CFDA Design Initiative Competition.

Ven Lai, BFA Fashion and Textile senior student, won second prize and $2,500. Lisa Chang, BFA fashion design, was awarded runner up.

Academy Award: Online Student Wins Award at Korean Fashion Show

Bora Han, online MFA Fashion student, has won Silver prize in a Korean design competition.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Korea organized a promotional event of Korean culture under the theme of ‘The Feast of Korean Taste, fashion and sound’ on February 27 in Seoul, Korea.

As part of its ‘Han Style Premiere’, this event was designed to give a realistic chance to experience traditional Korean culture and a large number of foreign diplomats, international journalists, businessmen and people related to cultural sector were invited. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Han Style refers to traditional and/or cultural items that reflect Korean lifestyle and are charged with Korean-specific sentiments such as Hangeul (the Korean alphabet), Hansik (food), Hanbok (clothes), Hanok (housing), Hanji (paper), and Kukak, traditional music.

Academy Award: School of Fashion Student Wins Top Honors in Korea

School of Fashion student Bo-Kyung Cha, MFA Fashion and Textile Design, is the Silver Prize winner of one of the biggest fashion design contests in Korea, the 37th JDG Contest. JDG stands for JoongAng Design Group.

In addition to winning $1,000.00, she was contacted by Hyundai department store regarding her future fashion business plans. Winners will also have the opportunity to be represented by the JoongAng Design Group, which supports its members in participating in Seoul Collection at the Seoul Trade Exhibition & Convention [http://www.seoulcollection.org].

The JDG Contest is important in Korea as many top fashion designers were winners of the JDG Contest such as Rubina, Yoon Soo Park, Dong Soon Kim, and Sang Bong Lee.

1990 School of Fashion MFA Fashion Design graduate Jin Young Kang was the Silver Prize winner of the 23rd JDG Contest. He and his wife Han-hee Yoon are the designers behind the fashion label Y&Kei [http://www.yandkei.com].

Academy Award: Fashion Group Foundation Scholarship Winner

BFA Fashion Design student Shannon Galati has been awarded a scholarship from Fashion Group Foundation. Only two students were chosen in the Bay Area. The Scholarship Committee chose Shannon based on her portfolio and interview. They told Shannon that they were “very impressed with your achievements and commitment to the fashion industry.”
On Friday, December 1, 2006, the two scholarship winners were officially announced at the Fashion Group Foundation of San Francisco’s Annual Scholarship Fundraiser. The cocktail reception and silent auction benefits young design students. Academy of Art University hosted this event in The Gallery at 79 New Montgomery Street.

On Tuesday, November 14, 2006, the San Francisco Chapter of Fashion Group International hosted a panel discussion at the W Hotel and invited seven School of Fashion graduates who launched their collections during New York Fashion Week to display their garments during the event. The graduates were Quyen Nguyen, Li-Jen “Alan” Lee, Pablo Fernandez, Laurie Browne, Young Jun Ryu, Masamichi Matsushita and Susan Fort.
Fashion Group International is a global non-profit association for men and women in the fashion industries. Membership provides personal and professional development, trend and business information, networking opportunities and support for the Fashion Group Foundation Scholarship. Please visit their website to learn more at www.FGI.org

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.

Academy Award: May 24, 2006 Nordstrom Internships

Also handing out awards was Nordstrom’s Linda Marie Tiliano who introduced the Nordstrom Product Group Design Internship Program winners. All three are from the Academy of Art University. The competition entailed forecasting future RTW trends by analyzing Haute Couture. The winners are:
o Yoshimi Fukazawa, MFA Fashion Design, who will be designing for Halogen, a Nordstrom private label womenswear brand aimed towards a younger customer.
o Laila Ghorban, BFA Fashion Design, who will be designing for Caslon, a Nordstrom private label womenswear brand.
o Joon Pak, BFA Fashion Design, who will be designing accessories.

Academy Award: 2006 CFDA Scholarship Grand Prize Winner MinSun Lee

On April 6, 2006, the CFDA Scholarship Committee chose ten winners for this year’s Scholarship Program and Academy of Art University Fashion and Knitwear Design student MinSun Lee was one of three grand-prize winners of $10,000.

“This is the most important student competition in the United States and 2006 is our best year ever for this award,” said Simon Ungless, Director of Graduate Fashion. “We always have a winner in this competition but to have three is incredible.”

The CFDA Scholarship Program is an annual initiative that awards ten merit-based scholarships to college juniors for expenses incurred in their senior year. The program is highly competitive, and entrants represent the best and the brightest from the country’s top fashion colleges and universities.

In August, CFDA Board Member Joseph Abboud made a personal commitment to underwrite the CFDA Scholarship Program. Mr. Abboud pledged to donate $250,000 over the next five years, to “give back to the fashion industry – and to support the future of the American design community”. His support has allowed the CFDA to increase their annual grants to three (3) awards of $10,000 and seven (7) awards of $3000 to the Scholarship Program winners.

Fashion School News Academy Award: 2006 CFDA Scholarship Awarded to Neda Odabasi

2006 CFDA Scholarship of $3,000 awarded to Neda Odabasi, BFA Fashion Design. Images from Neda's CFDA project.

Fashion School News Academy Award: 2006 CFDA Scholarship Awarded to Marie Potesta

2006 CFDA Scholarship of $3,000 awarded to Knitwear Designer Marie Potesta.

Fashion School News Academy Award: 2006 Target/CFDA Design Initiative Award Winner

Olga Mashkova-Henry, School of Fashion BFA Knitwear Design Senior, has won the ‘Target/CFDA Design Initiative’ Award and accepted the position of a one-year paid internship as a designer with Target in Minnesota.

This is a highly competitive, nationwide opportunity and participants hold degrees from the country’s top fashion schools with only three to six students from each of the invited colleges and universities able to apply each year.

“This project is possibly the most difficult for the students to succeed at as they have to show incredible originality with their ideas but must harness their creativity to design for a customer outside of what they know,” says Simon Ungless, Director of Graduate Fashion. “Olga worked very hard to develop the understanding of the core Target customer and produced a great project for them, she deserves this great opportunity. We are very proud of her.”

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) created its Masters Program in 1998 providing one-year, paid internship opportunities with a designer, design company, or major retail company to graduating seniors. Currently, the Masters Program operates in conjunction with Target Stores as the ‘Target/CFDA Design Initiative’. The very practical, hands-on program is designed to expose the recent graduate to all aspects of the fashion business.

Growing up in Russia with no importing forced Olga and her Mother to sew their own clothing but led Olga to find she enjoyed the process. As fashion is not considered a serious career choice in Russia, she left in 2000 to pursue her dream of becoming a designer in the United States.

She arrived in San Francisco with only $550 in her pocket but immediately set out for work. The process has not been smooth but that “struggle made me push harder,” admits Olga. “When you want something, you just do it!”

In the School of Fashion, Olga has found her passion studying knitwear design. “I find it exciting and challenging to create my own fabrics with different yarns. I love the possibility of bringing my ideas of unique textures and patterns to life”, says Olga. “My designs are styled as casual, comfortable knitwear with unusual and unique little details, something you would wear to work and to a casual event afterwards.”

Being chosen in this national competition is very exciting for Olga and a great reward for all her hard work. “I like that Target is a place where the whole family will find something to buy and being such a large company, Target provides many opportunities for professional growth and will allow me to explore different directions of design work. Also, as an activist,” adds Olga, “I respect Target’s involvement in community giving with a variety of educational and fundraising programs. I was amazed to find out how many different organizations Target supports and how much volunteering occurs within the company. I want to work for a company that actually cares.”