by David Cohen

Join the leading International Fashion and Luxury companies in NYC for the spectacular Jeffrey Fashion Cares 2012. This extraordinary event promising to bring together the best and most recognized companies in the world’s fashion industry and some of New York City‘s charitable organizations for an dazzling evening of cocktails, silent auction and haute couture.

This event to benefit four of the most worthy non-profit organizations that improve the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS and members of the LGBTQ youth community.

Past years’ auctions have included luxurious cadeaux by Prada, Gucci, Diesel, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Etro and more. Your generous ticket purchase and enviable auction buys benefit the important work of Lambda Legal, The Hetrick Martin Institute, The AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA) and The Point Foundation. To purchase tickets click here.

Monday, march 26,2012, from 7:30 p.m. to 11:.oo p.m., VIP-reception begins at 6:30 pm. At the Intrepid at Pier 86: 12th Ave. at W. 46th St., NYC

Photos courtesy of Jeffery Fashion Cares

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by Ian MacKintosh

When Ginch Gonch Underwear founder Jason Sutherland joined former Tommy Hilfiger executive Brian Edgar in founding their new company, Beyond Big Branding Industries, Inc., their combined, innovative multi-branding expertise soon found them globally launching new designs through partnerships with some of the best brands in the international market. To date, their company portfolio includes some of the most distinctive underwear brands such as Piss & Vinegar, EXPOSE and LAZZYbum.

Yet prior to Beyond Big Branding’s rise to success, Sutherland had already long since been known for his boldly designed underwear lines and marketing techniques. In a discussion with PINK, the original Ginch-Gonch guy recounts how he pushed the political correctness of the underwear-making industry to the limits.

PINK: Hey Jason! When thinking of a title for this story, I tossed around “The Underwear King” and “The Branding King.”

King? Well, I wanted that title but I believe Nick Graham, founder of Joe Boxer, claimed it years ago.  Queen was being kicked around but when I met Nick, I realized that he is happily married and I am too hairy for a tiara and those types of jewels.

PINK: Tell us about Beyond Big Branding Industries Inc.

Brian and I have started a machine for men, globally providing products that guys would like to have and other guys should be in. It’s a time when global males want stuff that makes them feel sexy and are masculine. We are approaching a time where guys are okay with being pampered.  This evolution has quickly happened in, lets say, a short 10 years, so imagine what we are about to see with guys being able to buy what they want to make them feel good.

PINK: You are known for bringing fun into the men’s underwear business with your product designs.  Men’s underwear was a bit boring before you came along.  How did you get to where you are today and what led you to this industry?

How did I get to where I am today? Lots of mistakes, taking risks and loving seeing what was able to happen from an idea which became the inner fuel to push. Everyone has personal pride with what they do and being able to do something I love is truly the best fuel to keep me going.

It has been seven years of learning. In this industry, we get to see all types of people from various social environments.  From the sales challenges, photo shoots, runways, and buyers from the best stores, we see how a product is made, sometimes in countries that need our industry to live and in climates that most would never step foot in. One day you are having dinner with the buyers of Selfridges and the next you are invited to dinner at the house of a cutter—those are two very different worlds.

PINK: Where did the names “Ginch Gonch” and “Piss & Vinegar” come from?

Ginch Gonch came from the idea of guys being able to talk about their parts without being embarrassed and at the same time, enjoying a bit of color down below. It’s mostly covered up anyway, so if you could imagine something putting a smile on your face when you hit the can. When I started Ginch Gonch, we came up with the Jolly Cock, a little happy chicken, and Wiener Eater and many other designs. The motto of Ginch Gonch is “Live Like a Kid.”  A kid has that infectious belly laughter so all we wanted to do was make the wearer smile a few times during the day.

Piss & Vinegar is a much different product, Piss & Vinegar as the meaning of the saying “Full of piss and vinegar” is an energy in which one is attracted regardless of beliefs, understanding or current position. We grow and change and if you have enough Piss & Vinegar, you might lead a life admired by many. As in Jesus or Buddha, both icons were and are still full of this energy we all admire.

Piss & Vinegar, in its collections to date, has had the “I love” collection that refers to an emotion one cannot control or explain, the “Super Ewh” collection for something super dirty that most may never admit too, and the “Spectrum, Who defines Creed & Color.” For spring, there is the “SX DRGS RCK & RLL” collection, which is something everyone can relate to whether their time was in the Americana 60s, Punk 80s or today’s club beats that keeps them up all night dancing with freedom. Music is a historical unexplainable iconic thing that all humans love.

PINK: Your marketing campaigns have always been fun, naughty and full of gorgeous models.  Is creating these campaigns the best part of your job?

It’s one of the great parts of this industry. I often say that when starting this business, I had no idea how many different body types I was going to meet and see. Naughty is when you have someone calling your office to find the right fit of underwear and describing there body parts to you. Or actually sending photos to the customer service agent so that their words can really resonate on what fit we are dealing with.  Hearing people excited and a bit strange in their excitement is the best parts of the job.  The second best is landing in so many different countries in world. We have a lot of parts on this globe the need to be covered up.

PINK: There has to be some crazy behind-the-scenes stories, right?

Are you kidding? YES.

Tammy, one of my favorite models, was flying overseas for the tradeshow circuit. She landed in London and was keep by agents for 36 hours for questioning due to not having the right paperwork in place and telling the agents that she was a model arriving for work. Oh the calls I received from her in the confinement, if I could have recorded them. “Ho, I can not handle it any longer, the walls are grey, you have to get me out of here pronto Jason. PRONTO. This color is not good for me!”

Or in Russia, when a guy (who shall remain nameless as he is in the fashion industry) pissed me off to no end about CK, CK, CK, it was the only underwear brand that he wore and I was simply trying to get him to TRY a pair on but instead he said, “you would have to rip them off me.” So in a hotel room full of people and with a camera recording, I did. I ripped them right off and from that video, we created the WEGGIE Contest. Funny times. There is a new story every week!

We could even talk about the stuff that is not as much fun such as manufacturers going bankrupt with 50% of your cash and the bank not releasing the products, or tradeshow booths being re-routed to cities that you had no idea existed, or a crazy pattern maker who smoked so much that there was a line of exhaust staining his face. Like any business, this industry is full of characters and personalities, people will take your ideas and intellectual properties and if they have enough money and your not careful, they will take your whole company with promise and just leave you with regret.

PINK: Each of your brands has a distinctive story and audience. LAZZYbum is for the “adrenaline junky.” EXPOSE is inspired by Columbian men “who know they are beautiful and are not afraid to flaunt it.”  What inspires you and these concepts?

LazzyBUM is everything the Jones aren’t, everything but being lazy. LazzyBUM is about catching what comes at you with a bit of an attitude.  Every Guys GUY can relate to this. Guys who want to make the trucks muddy, guys who want to jump out of planes and eat the fat off the stake, guys who live their days with exercise not because they want the best abs but because they are simply addicted to feeling good.

Look, concepts are emotions so I trigger an emotion that one can relate too. Regardless of an idea, it is nothing if you cannot create a memory or relate to present day with an “I wish I could.”

PINK: You are celebrating the first year of Beyond Big Branding, what are your goals for 2011?

Beyond Big Branding is opening stores and building out its products range with classic innovations. We are building out categories in every line as well as a few more new lines hitting the floors for Fall 2011.  We have partners in Australia, Germany, France, and the Netherlands – all the major countries that are building out and behind triumphant growth of the company’s brands. We are really excited about our newly formed relationships with Kuwait and India.

PINK: What is next for Jason Sutherland?

I have made a personal quest to GRAB 2011 by the BALLS.  It’s a GREAT year and it may be my last with the freedom of kid as I am doing everything I can to adopt and become a single Dad. I am currently getting some practice with Jesse, my 6-month old Fox Terrier who is truly pampered. I am preparing my head for committing and loving one or maybe two kids. My publicist Jeff adopted two boys a couple of years ago so I hear all about the growing pains and accomplishments. Sometimes it freaks me out and then I just want it more. My mom is excited to hopefully have another grandchild, to help me raise and to watch me be a father.

Check out the video of Jason wedging nameless: at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1023941804979432441#

]]> http://pinkmag.com/blog/2011/02/11/the-global-male%e2%80%99s-go-to-man/feed/ 0 http://pinkmag.com/blog/2011/01/28/what-i-saw-today-%e2%80%93-with-fashion-illustrator-richard-haines/ http://pinkmag.com/blog/2011/01/28/what-i-saw-today-%e2%80%93-with-fashion-illustrator-richard-haines/#comments Fri, 28 Jan 2011 18:34:36 +0000 DavidCohen http://pinkmag.com/blog/?p=3619

by Ian MacKintosh

Through the imagery of “combining men’s daily street style with original illustration,” fashion designer Richard Haines’ blog “What I Saw Today” is an addictive read. Haines’ career spans working as a designer for Calvin Klein, Bill Blass, Perry Ellis and Sean Combs to currently illustrating for In Style magazine and J Crew.

PINK: You have been penned “The Drawtorialist” because of your work and following on “What I Saw Today.”  Tell us about your blog and your fashion illustration work. When and why did you start blogging?

I started the blog about two and a half years ago. My career was in fashion design-menswear, and I was looking for freelance work. I figured if I started a blog, it would be another way to market myself. And I have always loved watching New Yorkers–it’s my favorite past time. So the furthest thing from my mind was the blog as an illustration vehicle but it took off immediately; the whole thing has been pretty amazing. After working for so many large companies, and being so edited, it was an incredibly liberating experience to directly put my work out into the ‘universe’–it was very empowering. I still feel the same way!

PINK: “A Visual Record of Cool Stuff Guys Wear…And Other Things That Inspire Me” is at the top of your blog.  What inspires you these days?

I’m usually pretty consistent in what I find inspiring. It’s a guy who puts himself together in an interesting way. It’s not necessarily about fashion and clothing. I love watching guys with style–the way he wears a hat, the way he stands–it’s much more about attitude and swagger. I’m inspired almost anyplace: on the train, at a party, a coffee shop; there’s usually at least one guy who’s put himself together well and I know will be fun to draw.

PINK: Is your style of illustrating similar to when you sketched designs while working for Bill Blass and Perry Ellis?

Yes and no. It’s developed over time, and working at fashion companies, a drawing is usually meant to convey specific information to a pattern maker, or done as a merchandising tool in the development of a collection. My sketching at those companies was fast and furious. There was no time to really sit down and do a sketch with color.  Now I really sketch to convey more of an attitude, or a gesture. I have the ability to include a detail like a pocket or a pleat, but it doesn’t have to be so technically correct.

PINK: Where do you find and what catches your eye to draw your subjects?

I can spot someone interesting in any part of New York, but right now the interesting parts of the city are Bushwick (where I live), Williamsburg, the Greenpoint, and the lower east side. I moved to Brooklyn about two years ago, and the ideas and art are happening here, and for me this is where people are putting themselves together in really interesting ways.

PINK: What do you say when asking someone if you can draw him?  Are most receptive?

New Yorkers love attention and they love to feel special. I’ve had one person out of hundreds say that he wasn’t interested in being drawn. Everyone else is flattered by the idea and immediately strikes a pose–it’s pretty amazing. But I always ask if I can take a picture or sketch them on the spot. I have a whole routine where I quickly explain what I do and as I’m talking, I hand them a card with my name and a link to the blog–just so they know I’m not a stalker!

PINK: You must meet many interesting men this way.

I was sketching one night and I realized I’ve made a career out of sketching hot, well put-together guys. I mean I find that pretty incredible. And most guys are great to talk to. The people who have come to my studio for a sitting are all interesting, bright guys. One of the best perks of the job is just getting to meet so many incredible guys.  Not a bad gig at all!

PINK: This past summer, I attended an exhibition of your erotic drawings that was hosted by fashion designer John Bartlett.  How different is it to illustrate someone in the nude to someone dressed?

Well, aside from things kind of unexpectedly “arising” when drawing a nude guy, I like to maintain a pretty clear boundary between the subject and me. The guys come to my studio and make themselves totally vulnerable by being nude;  I respect and appreciate that, and want to maintain that.  When I first started sketching nudes for the show, I wasn’t prepared for how hard (no put intended) it is drawing guys naked. In the same way one wears clothes to hide flaws, the same is for drawing. I realized I couldn’t hide a mistake with a pocket detail or shirt pattern. And for some reason I was drawing the genitals to be much larger than they really are! It took me a while to get comfortable with the whole package!

PINK: You had a busy New York Fashion Week (NYFW) in September, can you tell us some of the exciting things that went on?

In September, I really made an effort to go to as many shows as possible. I love everything about them, except trying to get in. The lines of people waiting to get in are just as interesting as the shows themselves, and the few times I got backstage to sketch models prepping was the best!  And things just keep unfolding. I had a SRO [standing room only] ticket to Narciso Rodriguez’s show, and saw a magazine editor friend who got me a seat in the third row. Then she took me backstage and introduced me to the guy doing the hair. He said he could get me into the Jeremy Scott show, so the next day I was sketching the models getting their hair and makeup done. As I was doing that, I ran into Kanye West, who had done a story about my blog the year before. We chatted and he invited me to a screening that night. So I went from standing room only to sketching Jay-Z and Beyonce in about 24 hours. That’s what I love about New York; you never know where something will take you.

PINK: What are your plans for the upcoming NYFW in February?

I’m sketching for the New York Times T Magazine’s online site. I’m sketching the European collections, as well as covering the New York shows, so I’m really psyched about that – it’s kind of a dream come true!

PINK: What is next for Richard Haines in 2011?

I just signed with one of the top agencies here, Jed Root, so I’m super excited about that. They are real pros and I’m excited about working with them on expanding my work and discovering new venues for it. I also would love to see a ‘What I Saw Today’ book and animation develop this year.

For more  information visit Richard’s blog: http://designerman-whatisawtoday.blogspot.com/

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When it comes to natural sophistication, actress Helen Mirren always delivers, both on-screen and off. And her presence at the 68^th Annual Golden Globes Awards was no exception. Stunning in her Badgley Mischka gown and glittering Chopard diamonds, Helen expressed regal confidence and her own inimitable spirit with her softly tousled short coif, styled by celebrity stylist Creighton Bowman of Exclusive Artists Management. “More than the gown and the jewels, Helen herself was my inspiration for creating her look,” says Creighton. “The idea was to translate her glamorous persona and fantastic personality into a style that shows off the real Helen Mirren.”  Here’s how Creighton worked his magic.

Between the provocative one-shoulder Badgley Mischka gown skimming over her baby bump and her tousled, sensual waves, actress and mother-to-be Jane Krakowsi looked as if she’d stepped out of the ‘60s film classic La Dolce Vita at the 68^thAnnual Golden Globes Awards. “Jane’s look is a nod to the glamour and sensuality of ‘50s and ‘60s European stars such as Anita Ekberg and Brigitte Bardot,” sayscelebrity stylist Creighton Bowman of Exclusive Artists Management. “And now that Jane is expecting, she’s more glowing and beautiful than ever,” says Creighton. “I wanted to show that moms-to-be are sexy too!” Here’s how Creighton created Jane’s alluring look.

As a web-based jeweler, Talk to the Turtle specializes in the exclusive sale of bold self-affirmation by way of subtle pendants regaling Feng Shui philosophy.

Each of the nine paths of Feng Shui are individually inscribed to its own 7/8 diameter fob in sterling silver, 10KT yellow or white gold and looped to an Adjustable Cord Necklace, with or without a semi precious stone accent ($58-$268). Cast silver 18” and 24” chains are available to coordinate with sterling-silver charms ($60 and $68 respectively).

Yet those who prefer a more whimsical chi may opt for the Spirit Dangle. Cast in solid nickel or silver the charms hang on an oval link nickel-plated chain connected to a nickel-plated swivel snap hook all of which is accented by a polished crystal quartz ($38). However with the Double Dangle, personal paths can go in two directions, be them Imagine, Love, Health, Wealth, Peace, Journey, Joy, Wisdom or Spirit. It all just depends on which way you Shui.

Available online at www.talktotheturtle.com.

Images above are not to scale

by Ian MacKintosh

I first met New York-based gay writer and photographer Alex Geana during New York Fashion Week.  For the past eight seasons, he has interviewed designers and reviewed shows and events for The Huffington Post. I then read his 2008 book “Side Step Me” which is a collection of short stories, poems and photography. A book that I felt was like reading a journal found in a Lower East Side nightclub. A journal with the right mix of insight and debauchery that I wish I could have penned myself. I loved every page. This past summer, Alex was one of 80 photographers from around the world invited to be part of The Great LGBTQ Photo Show at the Leslie Lohman Gallery on Wooster Street.  The gallery was founded in 1990, exhibits unambiguously gay artwork that is often denied by mainstream venues, and houses a permanent collection of more than 3,000 works by artists such as Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Jean Cocteau and Robert Mapplethorpe. Alex is presently working on three shows and is never without his camera.

PINK: Having your work shown in the Leslie Lohman Gallery is quite the honor.  How did it feel to be part of the show?

I was really excited. I’ve taken photography very seriously, just recently.  To get a gallery of that caliber out of the gate and to have one of the prints actually sell. Made me really excited and in some ways validated my desire to make pictures. Now people can buy the show from my website.

PINK: Tell us a bit about how and when you first became interested in photography.

I’ve always loved telling a story, it’s the medium that always seems to change for me. Side Step Me, in a way, marked the transition between my desire to write and the work in photography. I took a few classes in High School and needed to leave it behind. To enter the “real world”. But then I picked it up again, when I was tired of working on a novel and living in my head. My mentor and first reader passed away and I couldn’t finish the work. So I had to retool the way I chronicled the world.

PINK: How would you describe your photography style?

It’s still evolving, but I tend to favor very clean crisp images, that are very direct and uncluttered. I crop in the camera, which I’ve found is really rare for photographers. But I think that’s crucial for a final big print. I prefer to print 13 x 19 and upwards. I also like a really rich color palate with lot’s of color saturation and vibrancy.

Subject matter and working within the picture is becoming really crucial for me. How I make the work, from the moment I pick the model, to the way I print the photo, every step if important to my process and the choices I make along the way all effect the picture.  Photography is far more then just clicking on a button. I also love taking pictures of hot boys in various states of undress.  Just can’t help myself. J

PINK: What inspires you to take a photograph?I do look for the “decisive moment”. I wait for the picture to unfold in front of me. Sometimes you have to wait for a while. Sometimes you don’t. It depends on how much control you have. When I’m working with a model. I have a lot of control. When I’m in the tents and covering Fashion Week. I really have to keep my camera at my side. I’ve missed a ton of photos because a celebrity has whizzed by, or the PR firm gave me bad seats. But on that note. I’ve taken a ton of great photos because I’ve been seated very well and had the ability to focus on the celebrity in front of me.

PINK: Tell us about your upcoming shows.

Next year I have some very ambitious goals for myself and plan on focusing on photography full time. I have enough fashion photojournalism to mount a gallery show and want to find the right fit. I’m also building on what I’ve shot for the Leslie-Lohman gallery and want to explore spirituality and a dark edge, luxury, I’m looking for the right models and venues to shoot the show. Lastly, I’m obsessed with the visual diary that an iPhone can capture. I want to fill a room with hundreds of iPhone photos.

PINK: List five words that people would use to describe you:

creative • sweater • touch-frenzied • social • crowded

PINK: What is next for Alex Geana?

I try to take it one day at a time. As best as I can. I think I have a full year already booked. And it’s not even January.

To see more of Alex’s work, visit his website www.alexgeanaphotography.com.

by Ian MacKintosh

Born in Greenbrae and raised in Novato, California, Andrew Wedge has a long list of accomplishments. He completed an Intensive Program at Parsons School of Design with Honors, studied at Pratt Institute and returned to California and to pursue his dream to become a fashion designer when he joined the Academy of Art University in 2006.

The 24 year old designer has worked as an intern for Bay Area designers Sara Shepherd and Selfmade Apparel and in 2009; he was nominated for one of the most prestige fashion awards in San Francisco, the “Visionary Fashion Designer”. His latest women’s wear collection was created to give any woman a sense of power and strength.

PINK caught up with Andrew in San Francisco, where he plans to spend the summer before heading to Paris in the fall.

PINK: How old were you when you came out?
Andrew: 14 years old

How was growing up gay for you?

Well, growing up is always a difficult process, however, I was lucky enough that the gay part of my growth really was a non issue. My friends and family were incredibly supportive of me, and really didn’t make an issue out of it one way or another. Even when I played waterpolo, not one guy ever made a comment or joke. We were all friends, and my sexuality was simply not an issue.

Any advice you would give young gay readers that you wish you had?

Be adaptable. Rarely does life work out the way we had planned. However, if you are able to adapt and grow from changing circumstances, then you can really accomplish anything.

Gay Pride is coming up. Do you have any plans and do you feel its important to be a part of pride activities?

For San Francisco Pride, I really don’t have many plans yet but I will be volunteering at the Folsom booth one of the days. I think Pride can be very important. It is an amazing opportunity to meet new people, to give back, and to celebrate. Why would anyone want to miss that?

You were born and raised in the Bay Area and then moved to NYC, a city considered the fashion capital.  What made you return to San Francisco?  Are you inspired by San Francisco?

San Francisco will always be my home and will always inspire my work. It is one of the most diverse, fascinating, inspiring, and beautiful cities in the world. Living in New York was an amazing experience, most importantly in that it gave me a new found respect for San Francisco.

The inspiration for your collection came from the New Jersey shark attacks of 1916 and the fear of great white sharks in general.  You said that you wanted to channel this fear into the collection and create a look that gave the wearer a sense of power and strength.  The power and strength is clear in your collection but explain how the great white sharks come into play.

As the collection developed, the inspiration really split into two paths. One was creating a collection that would transform the wearer into a strong powerful predator. A woman, who, like a great white, would instantly create a sense of awe and really radiate an inner sense of confidence and power. The other path was to reflect on what happens during an attack such as the thrashing of the shark, the churning of the water, etc. It was important to me that every single detail within the collection reflects those two concepts.

Who are some of your design influences?

My very first introduction into the world of fashion was through Tom Ford during his early Gucci years. He was my earliest fashion hero. I admired his work and his views on what fashion should be.

You launched a line two years ago, The Andrew Wedge Collection, but have put it on hold to grow more as a designer.  Is your current plan to apprentice at a design house and then re-launch your line in the future?

In the fashion industry, I feel that apprenticeship is an incredibly important step. As designers, we all have such strong perspectives on culture and fashion. I was fortunate to have assisted fashion designers Sara Shepherd, and the late Linus Mendenhall. Approaching fashion through their eyes was an amazing experience and gave me a fresh look at how, as a designer, I view the world. I would love to have that opportunity again.

Have you thought about designing men’s wear?  There is something about you that makes one think of you as a men’s wear designer.

Menswear is something I have always been very curious to try. As a gay man, much of what I see everyday is menswear. As a result, my collections have strong menswear components within them. I believe it could be a very interesting experiment to do a menswear collection.

What is next for Andrew Wedge?

I want to apprentice at a design house either back in New York or in Europe.

]]> http://pinkmag.com/blog/2010/06/04/the-new-kid-on-the-block-fashion-designer-andrew-wedge/feed/ 0 http://pinkmag.com/blog/2010/05/27/labels-liquor-invades-manhattan/ http://pinkmag.com/blog/2010/05/27/labels-liquor-invades-manhattan/#comments Thu, 27 May 2010 16:57:57 +0000 DavidCohen http://pinkmag.com/blog/?p=1469

NYC’s finest Fashionistas, thirsty to get their ‘shop on’, will crowd the streets near 5th Avenue,  at the ultra trendy 7W Venue located at 7 West 34th Street at 5th Avenue for the next installment of the Sassy City Chicks Fashion Bash. Chic summer fashions theme up our new NYC 2 day Fashion Bash, as various top design labels will sell at unbelievable 30-80% off retail prices. Designer labels, up and coming designers, and online stores will be busy selling their trendy fashions. Shoppers will experience an unforgettable evening filled with shopping, sipping on complimentary Offley White Tonic Port cocktails and Crispin Hard Apple Cider and getting mini-spa treatments at the trendy and elegant RANI Spa Lounge.

Fashionistas can listen to the beats of DJ Marvilous, and the evening will feature hip photography from Positive Light Promotions. This event is designed for the fashion-forward women of New York longing for a ladies night out. Shoppers who attend this event with a Sassy Tote Ticket ($20) will receive our fabulous Tote with a bevy of trendy goodies valued at over $50. We are excited to introduce our “Shopper Preview” from 5-5:30pm for the first 150 ticket purchases per day, allowing them early access to the showroom floor. General Admission tickets are also available to purchase in advance or at the door for $10.

Wednesday, June 2nd & Thursday, June 3rd (5-10pm)
Thursday, June 3rd: Exlcusive Media Preview 12-2pm
@ The 7W New York 7 West 34th Street (at 5th Avenue) New York, New York 10001

Collection illustrations by BFA Fashion Design student Stephanie Hoffmann

by Ian  MacKintosh

The School of Fashion at Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California will debut the collections from graduating students of the Accessory, Knitwear, Men’s Wear, Technical, Textile, and Women’s Wear Design areas of study at the San Francisco Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 6, 2010.

Each year, the School of Fashion honors industry leaders who have made an outstanding contribution to the world of fashion and creates opportunities for the honored guests to interact with the students with discussions, classroom visits and an exhibition of student work and portfolios. From these settings, guests are able to select interns from all areas of study including Fashion Design for Women’s Wear, Men’s Wear, and Children’s Wear; Technical Design; Textile Design; Knitwear Design; Accessory Design; Costume Design; Fashion Illustration; Fashion Journalism; Fashion Merchandising and Visual Merchandising.

Before the fashion show, Dr. Elisa Stephens, President of Academy of Art University will present an Honorary Doctorate to Suzy Menkes, OBE, Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, and fashion editor of International Herald Tribune.

Academy of Art University President’s Awards for Excellence will be presented to:
·      Julie Chaiken, Bay Area designer and founder of Chaiken Clothing
·      Keanan Duffty, designer and author of ‘Rebel Rebel: Anti-Style’
·      Patrik Ervell, winner of the 2007 Ecco Domani Award for best men’s wear designer
·      Ian Hannula and Joe Haller, Bay Area designers and founders of Nice Collective
·      Carol Lim and Humberto Leon, innovative retailers and founders of Opening Ceremony
·      Elisa Palomino, women’s wear designer and VP of Design at Diane von Fürstenberg
·      Walter Van Beirendonck, men’s wear designer and one of ‘The Antwerp Six’
·      Dirk Van Saene, artist, designer and one of ‘The Antwerp Six’

Honored guests will announce internships at the end of the show. Other internships and awards to be announced include Abercrombie & Fitch, BCBG, SURTEX® designext Student Competition, and the Sister City Scholarship Exchange to study abroad in Paris at Studio Berçot and L’Ecole de la Chambre S

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