AI Passion for Fashion 2009 Competition

The Art Institutes™ has announced its yearly contest “Passion for Fashion” where students compete for scholarships to its various schools in North America. Eligible contestants must be high school seniors in either Canada or the US. Past design experience is not necessary, only the drive and desire to learn. The underlying focus of the competition is to “encourage and reward young fashion design and fashion marketing, merchandising and retail management talent at the high school level”.

The contest is offered in two categories, Fashion Design plus Fashion Marketing and Merchandising and Retail Management, with the two winners receiving full-tuition scholarships at any one of Ai’s Fashion Programs throughout North America. Both winners will also enjoy a trip to Fashion Week, New York in February 2009 as well as the opportunity to lunch with a “Seventeen Magazine Style Pro”.

Students must be in good standing academically and be scheduled to graduate in 2009. This year’s contest expects a finished garment in evening wear for the first category and a product or plan for the second category. Plans may include internet fashion concepts, retail store concepts, or a fashionable industrial safety item.

Last year’s competition was won by Tanya Lund who created a Medieval inspired gown “titled Elegantly Goth, a knee-length gray, wine and white dress with a long train, fitted bodice and brooch”. Equally inspiring are the second place winner who created an orange and yellow Bohemian inspired gown and third place with her male inspired tuxedo dress.

For young people who have the desire to become a name in the fashion industry, the Passion for Fashion competition is an ideal way to start.