SCAD alumna Laura Russell awarded Jeffrey New Talent Award at annual charity fashion event

Published: August 28, 2008

ATLANTA - The Savannah College of Art and Design again joined forces with renowned retailer Jeffrey Kalinsky for Fashion Cares 2008 Aug. 25.

Designs from the seven SCAD alumnae nominated for the Jeffrey New Talent Award kicked off the fashion show with great panache. Kalinsky, along with honored guest Isaac Mizrahi presented the award to Laura Russell, recipient of the SCAD Golden Scissors Award and a recent graduate. Russell 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.

This is the third year 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, bestowed the award on a SCAD graduate. This year's nominees were 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.

SCAD: The University For Creative Careers

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.

About the SCAD Fashion Department

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.