New York To Host Art Institute's PASSION FOR FASHION

Armed with sewing machines and design sketches, fashion-savvy teens are taking on the fashion world in The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition.

High school seniors from across the U.S. and Canada submitted their best fashion designs and fashion marketing, merchandising and retail management concepts to participating Art Institutes schools for the annual Passion for Fashion Competition where local winners were selected.  The local winning entry from each school is sent to New York City where a panel of fashion industry professionals will evaluate their entries for ingenuity, feasibility and  implementation of  concept.

The panel of judges for the Passion for Fashion Competition 2011 includes: Leanne Marshall, Winner of Project Runway Season 5 and fashion designer; Lawanda Wallace, associate home fashion director for Macy's fashion office; Patty Hughes, a fashion show producer who has appeared as a fashion expert on The Rachel Ray Show; Calvin Tran, contestant on Bravo's "The Fashion Show Ultimate Collection," fashion designer and Art Institutes alum; Leslie Bettison, an image consultant; Warren Satchel, Senior Merchandiser for Gap International; and Bruce E. Dempsey, Vice President, Academic Affairs Specialist, The Art Institutes.  

On the line is a full-tuition scholarship to study (i) Fashion Design or (ii) Fashion Marketing, Fashion Merchandising or Fashion Retail Management at The Art Institute school the entrant represents in the competition.  Above and beyond the scholarship's competitive experience, the grand prize winner in each category wins a trip to New York City's Fashion Week and a chance to network with staff from Seventeen.

"The students who participate make this competition the exciting event that it is. Each year we find the entries becoming bolder, more sophisticated, and representative of students who have found a calling in the fashion industry. We are proud to give them a scholarship opportunity to pursue this profession," says Bruce Dempsey, Vice President, Academic Affairs Specialist for The Art Institutes.    

For more information on The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/passionforfashion.

The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu) is a system of more than 45 education institutions located throughout North America. The Art Institutes system is America's Leader in Creative Education providing an important source for design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. Several institutions included in The Art Institutes system are campuses of South University.