News and Media

Published: Sep 11, 2008

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Iconic New York retailer Henri Bendel has tapped into the talent pool of the Savannah College of Art and Design. Working Class Studio, the product development venture of SCAD, was tasked with designing an on-trend floral printed cashmere sweater exclusively for Henri Bendel as part of its Fall 2008 Limited Edition Cashmere Collection. The concept was to introduce the element of art into fashion by partnering with the nation's leading art college and its unique Working Class Studio program. The resulting printed cashmere sweater has its own exclusive label for Henri Bendel, "SCAD Working Class Studio for Henri Bendel."

A chic scoop neck with ¾-length sleeves in sumptuous cashmere will be available in two of the season's hottest jewel tone colors, purple and pink. The sweater, which will retail for $248, is available on the Henri Bendel Web site. In October, the sweater will be featured in Bendel's Fifth Avenue window.

Developed in partnership with Henri Bendel, the sweater is based on a vibrant painting of poppies by celebrated artist and SCAD alumna Tiffani Taylor (B.F.A., painting, 2002; M.A., art history, 2004). Taylor's painting was reworked and transferred into a textile-friendly repeat by another SCAD alumna and professor, Andrea Messina (M.F.A., graphic design, 2002).

"Henri Bendel has always been synonymous with supporting up and coming design talent", remarks Ann Watson, VP and Fashion Director for Henri Bendel. "By partnering with SCAD, we are continuing this tradition while also evolving it by collaborating for the first time with the exceptional group of students that make up Working Class Studio. We sought out a partner who would understand the artistic aesthetic we wanted for this print and the obvious choice was SCAD, one of the most well respected art/design schools in the country. This opportunity has truly has been a process of art meets fashion."

"Art doesn't have to just hang on a wall - it can be worn to great delight," says Paula S. Wallace, SCAD president and co-founder. "SCAD is committed to propelling the professional success of its artists, and partnering with the renowned Henri Bendel is one way that can happen."

About Working Class Studio

Working Class Studio is a product development venture of the Savannah College of Art and Design that cultivates and promotes the work of talented SCAD student, alumni and faculty artists. An innovative concept for an educational institution, Working Class Studio marries function with fine art to deliver a well-curated, ever-expanding mix of original stationery and home décor lines sold in retail stores across the United States and internationally.

About Henri Bendel

Henri Bendel, Manhattan's legendary Fifth Avenue boutique -- known for fabulous shopping events, frequent celebrity sightings and dramatic window displays -- has long influenced the shape of American fashion with an unmistakable sense of style and a keen eye for the new and the next in women's accessories, cosmetics and apparel. One of New York's chicest shopping environments, Henri Bendel is a destination for the world's most stylish shoppers.