Gen Art Issues Call for Styles Entries

New York-based nonprofit organization Gen Art has issued an international call for entries for its fifth annual Gen Art Styles 2003 competition, set to take place April 22 at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom.

Designers with current lines and design students are eligible to enter the competition, which will feature five apparel categories: women’s ready-to-wear, menswear, women’s avant-garde, women’s eveningwear and accessories. Participants will compete for cash awards of more than $45,000.

This year’s competition will also feature the return of the Perrier Bubbling Under Award for Futuristic Design. Emerging designers and design students are asked to submit a sketch-based presentation representing the future of fashion and the “best futuristic design” concept. Five finalists will be selected from the applications, and a winner will be selected and announced during the Gen Art Styles 2003 event. The winner will be presented with an award and a check for $10,000.

Other sponsors of the event include Ecru New York, Heineken, L’Oreacute;al Feacute;ria, Acura and Eclipse Flash breath strips, which will sponsor the Eclipse Flash Fresh Talent Grant Program. Eclipse Flash will present a $10,000 grant to the Styles applicant who gives the best explanation of how he or she will use the money to grow his or her design business.

The deadline for submissions is March 11. Judges for the competition will include editors, stylists and retail buyers who will select 30 finalists by late March.

For more information, visit www.genart.org, e-mail styles@genart.org or call (212) 255-7300 ext. 503. —Alison A. Nieder