News and Media

Published: Sep 15, 2011


SAVANNAH, Georgia - The Savannah College of Art and Design, a private, nonprofit, accredited institution has collaborated with nationwide clothing retailer The Limited to debut a jewelry collection featuring original designs by seven SCAD students. During a private unveiling on Sept. 22 at the chain's Oglethorpe Mall location, attendees will have the opportunity to preview and shop the fall collection.

Watch a video about this collaboration

A reception will follow from 6-8 p.m. and will include remarks by Linda Heasley, CEO of The Limited and Victor Ermoli, SCAD's Dean of the School of Design.

The partnership between the iconic women's retailer and the nation's premier art and design university was devised to provide students with real business experience and offer Limited customers fresh designs.

"The Limited's mission is to help our customers achieve their personal success - fulfilling their potential and looking great every step of the way," said Linda Heasley, CEO of The Limited. "Which is why we were so excited to partner with the SCAD - to give students priceless, real life experience in the fashion industry and ultimately, provide our customers with the cutting edge designs they've come to expect from The Limited. This collaboration is truly a unique partnership of commerce and design."

The Limited reached out to SCAD for this partnership for both their reputation as a leading design institution, but also their emphasis on developing marketable skills. "As part of SCAD students' career preparation, we work with leading companies on collaborative projects. Through custom-designed assignments and commissioned work, our students gain real-world, professional experience-and our partners benefit from new perspective and fresh ideas," said Victor Ermoli.

To kick off this collaboration, executives from The Limited met with SCAD students in the jewelry and objects department in January 2011. Taking into account the company's creative and business requirements, the students created designs inspired by The Limited's Holiday 2011 concepts. During a formal presentation in March, the students' final designs were evaluated on their commercial and creative aspects. Twenty jewelry styles were selected for production for this capsule collection and will debut at The Limited's Oglethorpe Mall store beginning on Sept. 22. The pieces will also be available at thelimited.com on Oct. 3, 2011. Based on sales performance, The Limited expects to expand the collection to additional stores in the future.

"Ultimately this partnership is about the opportunities created by great design. We're so excited to help these student see how their design work can open doors to real life business opportunities," said Heasley. "We're proud to share their work with The Limited customer and help these student designers see their dreams come to life as product in our stores."

Learn more about SCAD's jewelry and objects program.

About The Limited

Based in Columbus, Ohio, The Limited, an affiliated portfolio company of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., is well known as the store concept that began mall-based specialty retailing as we know it. Drawing on almost 50 years of presence in American shopping centers, The Limited is an iconic fashion retailer that offers high-quality, private-label apparel designed to help the modern woman succeed. Design-driven, fashionable styles include suiting, sweaters, dresses, denim, outerwear, and accessories-to suit her lifestyle demands,from workday to weekend. The Limited has over 240 mall locations throughout the United States.

About Sun Capital Partners, Inc.

Sun Capital Partners, Inc. is a leading private investment firm focused on leveraged buyouts, equity, debt, and other investments in companies that can benefit from its in-house operating professionals and experience. Sun Capital affiliates have invested in more than 265 companies worldwide with combined sales in excess of $40 billion since Sun Capital's inception in 1995. Sun Capital has offices in Boca Raton, Los Angeles, and New York, as well as affiliates with offices in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Shanghai and Shenzhen.