SCAD joins with Jeffrey Kalinsky for Fashion Cares 2008
Published: August 21, 2008
ATLANTA - The Savannah College of Art and Design again joins forces with renowned retailer Jeffrey Kalinsky for Fashion Cares 2008, to be held at 55 Allen Plaza in Atlanta Aug. 25, 7 p.m. The annual fundraiser, which celebrates its 16th anniversary this year, benefits the Susan G. Komen for the Cure-Greater Atlanta Affiliate and the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund.
Hitting the runway will be six diverse collections by the seven SCAD alumnae nominated for the Jeffrey New Talent Award. This is the third year Kalinsky will bestow the award on a SCAD graduate. This year's nominees are Hattie Saltonstall, Jessie L. Ostermann, Ashlyn Kleber, Jordana Shalhoub, Kristen Monacell, Laura Russell and Ashley Gilbert, all of whom graduated with Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in fashion in 2008.
Off the runway, models wearing menswear designs by SCAD alumni David Kolender and Nivanya Abraham will mix and mingle with the crowd.
The event includes a reception, followed by a live auction and runway fashion show featuring selections available at Kalinsky's eponymous boutiques in Atlanta and New York. Included in the show will be pieces by Kalinsky, a longtime friend of the college and recipient of a premier Étoile Award at the inaugural SCAD Style Étoile Gala in Atlanta in 2006.
Hattie Saltonstall created "Ascendancy," a collection of couture gowns, in response to her mother's and godmother's fights with cancer. Saltonstall used fabrics that appear ruined and ugly to the untrained eye but, transformed by her unique vision, become beautiful and inspiring. "By taking control of the 'ruined' fabric and making it something beautiful, I'd like to portray the idea that a person affected by cancer can take control of the disease," she said.
Jessie L. Ostermann found inspiration for her collection in the vibrant colors and playful lyrics of the Beatles album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Her silhouettes embody the youthful vivacity of a 1960s teenage groupie, with the subtle influence of marching band uniforms. Ostermann's collection, anchored by oilcloth, consists of multiple motifs that were hand-embroidered with cashmere, angora and velvet yarn, then beaded with Swarovski crystals. Ostermann said she "wanted to dazzle the audience into smiles" with her show-stopping designs.
Ashlyn Kleber and
Jordana Shalhoub collaborated on a collection inspired by a mixture of the 18th century and 1980s punk. They chose details from both time periods and combined them with classic and extremely wearable silhouettes. As participants in the inaugural "style lab" mentorship program with Ruffian, they developed a selection of unique separates that reflect both their own vision and that of Ruffian founders Claude Morais and Brian Wolk.
Kristen Monacell, inspired by nomadic cultures living in tundra environments, used various yarns including wool, baby alpaca and mohair blends to create her senior collection. "The pieces are all knitted by hand, which I felt connected with the lifestyles of the nomadic women that I wanted to represent," she said.
Laura Russell, recipient of the SCAD Golden Scissors Award, used inspiration from modern architecture in her sophisticated collection. "My design aesthetic is for the woman who is not afraid to stand out in a crowd, demands attention and radiates confidence," she explained. Russell's garments are characterized by sharp seams, elements of origami, and charcoal and gunmetal gray silk/wool blends.
Ashley Gilbert has designed a collection for women who find inspiration in classic military garb. "The pieces allow for a tension between masculine and feminine expression," she explained. She draws inspiration from her favorite things - old leather boots, faded textiles, worn wool, patched jackets, and gold aviators and epaulettes with brass buttons.
The recipient of the Jeffrey New Talent Award will be announced at Fashion Cares 2008, Aug. 25, at 55 Allen Plaza in Atlanta.
Named one of Kaplan's "25 cutting-edge schools with an eye toward the future," the Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Ga., and in Lacoste, France. Accredited undergraduate and graduate degree programs also are offered online through SCAD-eLearning. The college offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Architecture, Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Fine Arts and Master of Urban Design degrees.
The SCAD fashion department partners with innovative designers and critics, and brings visiting industry professionals to network with, critique and lead workshops for students. The fashion department is a "style lab" in design education and innovation, balancing the development of a student's creative and intellectual skills with necessary practical and professional training specific to the needs of the global apparel industries. Alumni have started successful labels, won prestigious awards and landed jobs working for some of the biggest labels in fashion today. For more information, visit
www.scad.edu/fashion.
