And the Winners Are . . .

On Wednesday, October 3, Moore College of Art & Design kicked off the academic year with its Jumpstart Fashion Show 2007. The Project Runway-style event took place in Moore College's Great Hall. This year's theme, "Flights of Fancy: A Tribute to Aviator Park," was inspired by the just-completed $1.7 million renovation of Aviator Park on The Parkway.

This year's Jumpstarts winners are:

First Place Prize: Senior Irene Crabbe
Second Place prize: Senior Arielle Pinto
Third Place prize: Senior Jakia Handy
Honorable Mention: Junior Sarah Friel

View photos of this year's Jumpstart

Irene Crabbe's first-place design (pictured left) featured a strapless taupe ball gown with simulated goose feather skirt. Arielle Pinto's design was a whimsical dandelion puff-inspired dress in tones of gold, mauve and beige, while Jakia Handy used brightly color blocked silk, to shape a hot-air balloon gown with basket bodice. Sarah Friel's creation was a floor-length strapless gown layered with hundreds of pink and white party balloons.

Judges for this year's Jumpstart included: Ashley Harder, of the CW Philly 57 Crew; Margie Holmes Morace '85 from Costume Gallery; Alexis Schafer '03 from Rasta Imposta; and Lorie Mertes, Director, Chief Curator, The Galleries at Moore.

Every year, the theme for Jumpstart is announced on the first day of class. Students from Moore's acclaimed Fashion Design program have just one month to develop and execute their creations, which this year are based on anything that can take flight. This year's designs were inspired by everything from insects to tropical birds to hot air balloons, in materials ranging from faux fur to feathers, silks to organza--even Christmas lights. Junior and senior students each contributed a "heavenly" design.

As part of the Jumpstart event, this year, sophomore students participated in the Bloomingdale's Hanae Mori Design Competition and Exhibition of student artwork. The subject of the illustration was Hanae Mori, the Japanese haute couture fashion designer, whose main inspiration is the butterfly. Students used the butterfly as the main influence for their illustrations. Sixty sophomore Fashion Design students participated in the contest, and the top 20 designs are on display at Bloomingdale's Willow Grove women's fragrance counter during the month of October.

"Jumpstart always gets our department off to a great start," said Janice Lewis, chair of the Fashion Design department. "It allows students to create conceptual runway pieces and gives them complete creative freedom. This year's theme, Flights of Fancy, gave students a framework to work within, while also allowing lots of creative freedom. And, of course, we love to highlight relevant events, such as the recent renovation of Aviator Park."

Congratulations to all for a spectacular show.

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