Eight Finalists Heading to World MasterCard Fashion Week After 2012 Mercedes-Benz Start Up Nationwide Search Comes to a Close Français
TORONTO, Aug. 21, 2012 /CNW/ - Mercedes-Benz Start Up, Canada's leading national program created to discover and nurture up and coming fashion designers, wrapped up its 2012 country-wide search this week in Ottawa. Over the course of the last five months, the semi-final phase of the program held searches for top emerging designers in Edmonton, Halifax, Quebec City and Ottawa. A committee selected designers from a pool of applicants to present their collections and business plans to a panel of industry experts, consisting of buyers, journalists, established designers, stylists, show producers and marketing professionals.
The following semi-finalists were chosen to advance to the next phase of the program: representing Edmonton and Western Canada will be Malorie Urbanovitch, Dreamboat Lucy sister team Hilary and Louanna Murphy from Halifax, Montrealer Duy Nguyen of DUY will represent Québec while the Ottawa semi-final event yielded a tie for Christopher Bates and Caitlin Power who are both from Toronto.
Due to the impressive talent scouted nationwide, the panel announced earlier this year that it would be adding wild card entries at the conclusion of the semi-final phase. After much deliberation, the wild cards were assigned to Nicole Campre and Lauren Bagliore both from Edmonton and to Vancouverite Patty Nayel of Pure Magnolia Gowns who entered the most recent event in Ottawa. These three additional semi-finalists will be joining the first five semi-finalists and will debut their Spring 2013 collections at the Mercedes-Benz Start Up group runway show at the World MasterCard Fashion Week in October. The fully-styled show will feature each of the eight semi-finalists' capsule collection which will be shown to an audience of fashion industry experts, media, buyers, local fashion fans as well as a hand-selected panel of judges that will ultimately choose one designer that will become the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Start Up recipient.
"The depth of talent that applied for the 2012 program has surpassed our expectations," Jarrad Clark, Global Production Director, IMG Fashion. "We had many qualified applicants that represented the country's budding enthusiasm for home grown fashion. It is truly exciting to see the future of the Canadian fashion landscape shine so brightly, with the growing pool of emerging designers sharpening their design and business skills through the incomparable mentoring that Mercedes-Benz Start Up offers."
"The Mercedes-Benz Start Up program was conceived in June 2011 and we are absolutely thrilled to see how well it has been received by the overall Canadian fashion industry so far" said JoAnne Caza, Director, Communications and Public Relations at Mercedes-Benz Canada. "It is extremely rewarding to witness first hand the overwhelming level of commitment from all fashion disciplines here in Canada. From magazine editors to seasoned designers, boutique owners to senior buyers, stylists to fashion professors, each and everyone is truly delighted to give something back to these emerging designers. We are confident that this exciting and essential program will help launch the careers of its participants and secure Canada's rightful position as a growing power player in the world of fashion."
The eight finalists Malorie Urbanovitch, Dreamboat Lucy, DUY, Christopher Bates, Caitlin Power, Nicole Campre, Lauren Bagliore and Pure Magnolia Gowns will all benefit from intensive mentoring as they prepare for the runway. Canada's most important fashion event, World MasterCard Fashion Week, will also provide unsurpassed marketing opportunities coupled with an audience of important buyers and media in attendance.
The 2012 recipient who will be chosen at the October show will receive a solo runway show, fully produced by IMG Fashion at the Fall 2013 Collections in March. This designer also will receive editorial coverage in FASHION Magazine (official media partner of Mercedes-Benz Start Up), mentoring by Editor-in-Chief Bernadette Mora, Robin Kay, President of the Fashion Design Council of Canada, Jarrad Clark, Global Production Director, IMG Fashion, and other soon-to-be- announced successful fashion experts. These highly experienced mentors will not only help them create a show-stopping collection but will also share their huge amount of experience on how to develop a thriving business.
Mercedes-Benz Start Up will be announcing the 2013 semi-final locations in October. Designers interested in applying for next year's program are encouraged to register on-line in early January. .
ABOUT MERCEDES BENZ START-UP
Produced in association with the Fashion Design Council of Canada and IMG Fashion, Mercedes-Benz Start Up is an ongoing initiative that provides a national platform to discover and support up-and-coming Canadian designers. By connecting these gifted individuals with an experienced panel of industry insiders, the program mentors Canadian talent to help them hone a broad range of skills and elevate their profile through unique and exclusive opportunities. Unprecedented access to experts, combined with invaluable real-world practical experience, equips participants with a comprehensive roadmap to success and the knowledge and confidence required for a thriving career in fashion.
For more information visit www.Mercedes-BenzStartUp.com and follow us @MBStartUp for the latest updates.
SOURCE: Mercedes-Benz Start Up
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For all media enquiries, images, and additional information, please contact:
Andrew Serrano
IMG Fashion
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Michael Minielly
Mercedes-Benz Canada
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JoAnne Caza
Mercedes-Benz Canada
[email protected]
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