Though you wouldn't expect to read "American Chemical Council" (ACC) in the roster of sponsors for LA Fashion Week, that's precisely who helped kick off the yearly celebration at the end of October. Hosted by Big Bang Theory actress Kaley Cuoco, the Fresh Faces in Fashion show was the first in a series of events sponsored by Plastics Make It Possible in collaboration with emerging talent group Gen Art.
The night was devoted to plastic's history in fashion, from mainstream to haute couture. "Plastics have played a very large role in fashion for decades," said Steve Russell, Vice President of the ACC Plastics Division. "Without plastic, we wouldn't have faux fur and skinny jeans wouldn't have their stretch." That's at least a couple of sneakers and bras that'd be missing from the everyday closet.
Cuoco announced a nationwide fashion design competition challenging designers to create women's wear utilizing plastic-based fibers like chiffon, rayon, nylon, and more. Open until December 1, 2009, designers can submit two looks to discover.genart.com. Fans, enthusiasts, and consumers are encouraged to hop onto the site and vote for their favorite designers' works. Public voting ends December 15, 2009.
Winners receive a $10,000 prize and a runway show at Gen Art's Fresh Faces event at Winter 2010 New York Fashion Week. A place under Gen Art's wings would keep a winner in good company. Previous Fresh Faces designers represented by Gen Art include Zac Posen, Philip Lim, and Rebecca Taylor.
