Plus-size glamour
and sustainable design highlight Otis College of Art and
Design’s 32nd Scholarship Benefit and Fashion Show, drawing
top fashion designers, celebrities, and business leaders
together in support of scholarships for gifted artists and
designers.
Otis College of Art and Design’s 32nd Scholarship Benefit
and Fashion Show, held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly
Hills, CA on May 3, 2014, raised nearly $1 million in
support of emerging talent in art and design. The event
showcased the work of upcoming designers mentored by Isabel
and Ruben Toledo for Lane Bryant; Rod Beattie of Bleu with
Erika Kane for Mattel; Todd Oldham; Maru Aldea for Under
Armour; Howard Lichter, Jarrett Reyolds and Adrian Nyman for
Nike; Christina Kim for dosa; David Meister; Amé Austin Max
for MaxStudio, Robert Tuggle for Eddie Bauer; Biya Ramar for
Johnny Was, and Bobi Garland for Western Costume.
“The future of
fashion is on display at the annual runway show,” said
Rosemary Brantley, Chair of the Otis Fashion Design Program.
The focus on environmental and social impacts of
sustainability, whether in reuse, recycling, repurposing,
multiple looks, or heirloom apparel, will shape fashion in
the 21st century.”
The annual
benefit black-tie gala is Los Angeles' largest fashion
runway show featuring more than 70 professional models in
175-plus fashion designs for women, men, and juniors.
Attracting leaders in business and entertainment, stylists,
fashion and design retailers, celebrities and fashion fans,
the Otis Scholarship Benefit and Fashion Show offers a
spectacular look at the future of fashion.
Highlights of the
32nd Annual Otis Scholarship Benefit Fashion Show included:
DESIGN LEGEND
AWARD: LEON MAX
Designer and founder of Max Studio, Leon Max started one of
the world’s most recognizable and stylish brands. With
studios in Los Angeles, New York, and England, Leon Max
celebrates 35 years of a line based on a balanced mix of
traditional and cutting-edge elements.
CREATIVE VISION AWARD: MICHAEL EGECK
President and CEO of Eddie Bauer, Michael Egeck is one of
the retail industry’s most successful and respected leaders.
He has more than three decades of highly relevant sportswear
design, outdoor and specialty retail experience, and an
exceptional track record of building global apparel and
outdoor brands.
DESIGN INNOVATION AWARD: ISABEL AND RUBEN TOLEDO
World-renowned creative partners, Isabel and Ruben Toledo
are hailed for their timeless designs and signature style.
Isabel is one of our generation’s most coveted fashion
designers with a distinct aesthetic, and Ruben is one of
fashion¹s most prolific illustrators with unrivaled ability
to create unique, evocative sartorial illustrations.
Isabel Toledo and Lane Bryant partnered this year to bring a
dazzling plus-size collection to life at the Otis
Scholarship Benefit and Fashion Show.
STUDENT DESIGNER
OF THE YEAR: ARTHUR THAMMAVONG
Working with
professional designers, students at Otis College of Art and
Design learn all aspects of the design process, testing new
ideas, methods, materials, and equipment. This year students
were mentored by an outstanding group of designers.
ISABEL AND RUBEN
TOLEDO – New York designers Isabel and Ruben Toledo have
remained comfortably outside the mainstream fashion
industry, despite high-profile clients like Michelle Obama.
Isabel maintains a very personal style, based on a keen
understanding of garment construction and appreciation for
the geometric intricacies of pattern shapes. Her husband
Ruben’s sketches often reference fashion, and are frequently
incorporated into her work. From store displays at Barneys
to commissions from Louis Vuitton and Nordstrom, and
illustrations for major publications, Ruben defines
contemporary style. Students worked with Isabel and Ruben on
a plus-size collection for Lane Bryant.
MATTEL/BARBIE with ROD BEATTIE OF BLEU and ERIKA KANE – The
successful brand launch of Bleu/Rod Beattie in 2011
solidified alumnus Beattie’s reputation as the top designer
in the U.S. swimwear market. For the past twenty years his
swimsuit designs have been the best-selling styles at
department stores and specialty stores nationwide. Students
working with Rod and Erika Kane of Mattel used the Malibu
Barbie icon to create swimwear for young women ages 18-24.
UNDER ARMOUR –
Founded in 1996 by former University of Maryland football
player Kevin Plank, Under Armour produces apparel that keeps
athletes cool, dry, and light throughout the course of a
game, practice, or workout. Students designed
multi-functional garments for boys and girls - - from play
to dinner with the family.
NIKE – A world
leader in sustainable design, from footwear and apparel to
equipment, Nike’s design team works directly with athletes
and consumers to design authentic performance products.
Designing for 2020, students created uniforms for NYC’s
Central Park Run Crew - part gym, part cross-country, part
after hours club – that transform and adapt to weather
conditions.
CHRISTINA KIM OF
DOSA – Working with finite resources inspires Los
Angeles-based fashion designer Christina Kim. Christina
integrates recycled materials and the work of artisans from
around the world into her eco-friendly, human-friendly dosa
fashions. Garments from dosa are handmade, labor-intensive
rather than resource-intensive, and combine traditional
techniques with new designs. Inspired by the Huntington
Library’s Flower Market, students worked with Christina to
design separates.
AMÉ AUSTIN OF MAXSTUDIO – Established in 1979, MaxStudio
sells through department stores with 46 of its own retail
stores in the U.S and another 50 in the Far East. Students
worked with alumna Amé Austin, to design tailored sportswear
for men and women inspired by the architecture of Luis
Barragan.
TODD OLDHAM -
Artist, designer, and TV personality best known as host of
Todd Time on MTV’s House of Style, Todd Oldham is president
of L-7 Designs Inc. His fashion lines, interior design work,
books, and television appearances have introduced millions
to his exuberant style and playful aesthetic. Students
worked with Todd on modern sportswear and dresses inspired
by Native American culture.
DAVID MEISTER -
David Meister is synonymous with sophisticated, beautiful,
body conscious women’s wear. His designs are a red carpet
staple, gracing Hollywood stars such as Diane Lane,
Katherine Heigl, Queen Latifah, Fergie, Felicity Huffman,
Tina Fey, Drew Barrymore, and Sharon Stone. Students worked
with David to design jersey dresses that have a second life,
transforming for multi-purpose use.
EDDIE BAUER -
Eddie Bauer offers signature outerwear, apparel, outdoor
gear, and accessories. Students working with Otis alumnus
Robert Tuggle, Design Director for Men’s Sportswear, used
recycled clothes from Eddie Bauer to remake and rethink
suburban trekking gear for a post-apocalyptic setting.
JOHNNY WAS - Eli
Levite’s Johnny Was offers beautifully crafted, luxurious,
flowing clothing for the ultimate boho chic. Students
designed a gypsy-inspired collection informed by different
cultures from around the world, including tribes and
national costumes of dancers from countries such as
Pakistan, Mexico, Romania, Thailand,
and Spain.
WESTERN COSTUME
CO. – The Western Costume Co. has been dressing Hollywood
since the days of silent film. The largest costume house in
the U.S., they offer one-stop shopping for costumers,
designers, and their crews, from made to order tailoring
services and supplies to manufacturing. Students worked with
Western Costume Co. to design costumes for dance throughout
the decades.
MAJOR SPONSORS OF
THE 32ND ANNUAL OTIS SCHOLARSHIP BENEFIT AND FASHION SHOW
INCLUDE:
Elaine and Bram
Goldsmith, Eddie Bauer, B.N. Maltz Foundation, The James
Irvine Foundation, City National Bank, Mattel, Clinique,
Gail Buchalter, Andrew and Bronya Galef, The Hyde Family,
The Goldsmith Family Foundation, Marisa Arango, Gibson Dunn,
and Lunada Bay.
ABOUT THE OTIS
FASHION DESIGN BFA PROGRAM
Fashion Design at Otis trains students in all aspects of the
design process, offering a fully accredited BFA degree. The
school year follows the industry schedule and several
seasons are designed simultaneously. Working with
professional mentors, students learn far more than drawing,
sewing, and patternmaking skills: they experience all facets
of the industry, and they learn to meet deadlines with
creativity and self-discipline. Graduates enter the
profession as assistant designers, associate designers,
illustrators, costume designers, textile designers,
accessory designers, and product designers. Some start their
own clothing lines immediately upon graduation.
ABOUT OTIS
COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
Established in 1918, Otis College of Art and Design is a
national leader in art and design education. The College
mission is to prepare diverse students of art and design to
enrich our world through their creativity, skill, and
vision. Alumni and faculty are Fulbright, MacArthur, and
Guggenheim grant recipients, Oscar awardees, legendary
costume designers, leaders of contemporary art movements,
and design stars at Apple, Abercrombie & Fitch, Pixar,
DreamWorks, Mattel, Nike, and Disney.
Otis enrolls approximately 1,100 full-time students, and
offers Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in
Architecture/Landscape/Interiors, Digital Media (Game and
Entertainment Design, Animation, and Motion Design), Fashion
Design, Communication Arts (Graphic Design, Illustration,
and Advertising Design), Fine Arts (Painting, Photography,
and Sculpture/New Genres), Product Design, and Toy Design.
Otis also awards the Master of Fine Arts degree in Fine
Arts, Graphic Design, Public Practice, and Writing.
The five-acre
main campus is located on L.A.’s Westside near the beach and
LAX; Fashion Design is in the heart of the downtown fashion
district; and the Graduate Studios are on the Creative
Corridor in nearby Culver City, and in the 18th Street Arts
Center in Santa Monica.
2,700 adults and
children participate in Continuing Education art and design
classes and workshops.
Additional information is available at
www.otis.edu
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