Art Institute of California – Orange County Fashion Student Named Finalist in Nationwide Competition

Local student, Jessica Pinney, will represent The Art Institute of California – Orange County in The Humane Society of the United States’ fourth annual Cool vs. Cruel fashion design competition. The Cool vs. Cruel competition inspires design students enrolled in fashion design programs at Art Institutes schools across North America to produce fur-free, animal-friendly fashions by using their own creativity to replace animal fur.

Pinney’s dress is comprised of 100 percent acrylic/polyester leopard print with a synthetic black lace collar. The silhouette is a sleeveless, V-neck bodice, fitted at the waist with a short circular skirt.

“Jessica successfully utilized the elements of design to create a classic leopard print dress with an antique-like lace collar,” said Mary Ann Gale, Academic Director, Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing & Management. “The dress is timely and makes the statement that you can love and appreciate animals without wearing them.”

The competition continues to grow in popularity among students at The Art Institutes. Pinney, a native of San Clemente, is among the 15 local finalists who were chosen out of more than 160 entries to compete for the top prize nationally. Their entries will be judged by a star-studded panel of judges, including celebrities and top designers. The grand prize winner will receive a trip to New York City for the Nov. 13 award presentation and an all-expenses paid, week-long internship during New York Fashion Week with a celebrated fur-free designer. The HSUS is co-hosting the event with Nigel Barker, world-renowned photographer and judge on “America’s Next Top Model.”

“This contest gives young designers the opportunity to showcase their compassion and talent through cruelty-free, fashion-forward design,” said Kristin Leppert, director of the Fur-Free Campaign for The Humane Society of the United States. “Today’s consumers don’t want to buy a garment that might have been ripped off the back of a conscious animal. These students join an ever-growing list of designers and retailers who reject the cruelty of fur production. We applaud their pledge to make compassion their fashion.”

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization – backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at humanesociety.org.

The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu) is a system of more than 40 locations throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.

Learn more at humanesociety.org/coolvscruel or artinstitutes.edu/Competitions/coolvscruel.

Media contact: The HSUS – Heather Sullivan: 301.548.7778; hsullivan@humanesociety.org or The Art Institute of California – Orange County – Tricia Cook: 714.338.1303

This release was published on openPR.