Benefit to be heartfelt event | Rose Dennis | In Good Company
Published 9:55 am Friday, January 20, 2012
Project Red Dress benefitting the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women will take place on Friday, Feb. 3 in the Spanish Ballroom at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel.
Twelve students from local fashion design schools will be participating in this year’s competition. With only a $200 budget, they each are to create an original designed dress using only red fabric and embellishments that were selected during the fabric selection process. They have just 16 hours, on pre-scheduled days, to design and create their garment.
Designer students competing this year are Cynthia Tianadi & Isaiah Whitmore from The Art Institute; Corban Harper & Julius Leano from the International Academy of Design and Technology (IADT); Caitlyn Petitclerc & Renee Corrick with the New York Fashion Academy; Aine Branch & Cielle Miler, Seattle Central Community College (SCCO); Terry Wilson & Taryn Sytsma, Seattle Pacific University (SPU); and Carlie Bailes & Casey Burnette from Washington State University (WSU). The winner will receive a scholarship to continue their educational training.
The dresses will be worn on the runway by influential women in the community. This year’s models from Bellevue and Seattle include: Kendra Todd, The Apprentice, Season 3 Winner & Entrepreneur; Marni Hughes, The American Heart Association & Anchor for Q13 FOX News at Five; Teresa Gonzalez, K.U.N.S. UNIVISION of Seattle; Christina Clarke, Miss Washington USA 2011-2012; Darcy Camden, Personal Stylist; Cynarah Ellawala, Fashion Network Settle COO/CMO; Niveen Heaton, ADICORA Swimwear Designer & Metropolitan Fashion Week Fashion Creative Director; Olga Szwed, Designer & owner of LA Belle Reve Bridal; Jacquelynn Reasy Woodward, Sorella Salon & Spa Owner & Stylist; Dr. Michaela Bobeva, Willamette Dental; Project Executive Jen Masterson, Representing PRO Sports Club; and myself.
The Project Red Dress competition was created in 2007 by Monir Zandghoreishi. Monir is a couture designer, producer of this event, and the program chair for the International Academy of Fashion Design & Merchandising Program in Tukwila. This year’s director is Eduardo Khawam, who has years of experience and talent with creating events.
The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra (SMCO), under the direction of Geoffrey Larson, will perform while the models walk down the runway.
This year’s presenting designer will be Irina Turner of Atelie Couture, a local fashion design studio that designs bridal, pageant, cocktail, and custom clothing. For tickets www.brownpapertickets.com.
www.projectreddress.com.
