Savannah College of Art and Design and ELLE Present 2nd FASHION | NEXT, a Special Showcase of the Future of Fashion

SAVANNAH, Ga., May 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), the world's most comprehensive art and design university, and ELLE, the No. 1 fashion magazine in the world, are pleased to announce their partnership on the second FASHION | NEXT initiative. With exclusive sponsor Maybelline New York, the initiative celebrates the fusion of art, fashion, beauty and education in one extraordinary and unique program. ELLE will showcase the work of select SCAD fashion seniors editorially in the October and December issues, online at ELLE.com and in a runway show at Lincoln Center during New York Fashion Week on Sept. 9, 2011.

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"SCAD is delighted to partner with ELLE on FASHION | NEXT. It is priceless for SCAD students to have their work featured in the largest international fashion magazine and on the most prestigious runway in the world. Come September, all eyes will be on New York, and on the stellar work of SCAD students," said SCAD President Paula Wallace.

Of the countless talented SCAD designers, ELLE editors will select the students who best embody the spirit of "FASHION | NEXT." These semifinalists will be given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show their designs at Lincoln Center's Koch Theater during New York Fashion Week. Prestigious awards will be given to the top designers, including the ELLE Design Award. The winner will be announced at the Sept. 9 show and be awarded a grant of $25,000. The semifinalists also will have the chance to win the ELLE People's Choice Award, a $10,000 grant selected by ELLE.com users (voting goes live on Sept. 9). In addition, Maybelline New York will present a semifinalist with a design achievement grant.

"ELLE has always supported and encouraged young, emerging designers, so we're very excited to partner with SCAD and together discover the next faces in fashion," says ELLE Editor-In-Chief Robbie Myers.

The winners will be selected by an esteemed group of fashion industry luminaries and ELLE editors including Fashion News Director Anne Slowey, Fashion News Editors Nick Axelrod and Irina Aleksander, and Maybelline New York Assistant Vice President Doreen Arbel.

In addition to coverage in the October and December issues and elite runway show, ELLE.com will offer visitors a backstage pass to the Fashion Week festivities through a documentary-style webisode series chronicling each student's journey from SCAD to Lincoln Center, with insider commentary from ELLE editors and the judging panel.

SCAD has the largest and most comprehensive School of Fashion in the world, and offers more degree programs and specializations in fashion and accessory design than any other art and design university. Encompassing fashion design, accessory design, fashion marketing and management, luxury and fashion management, and menswear, the SCAD School of Fashion prepares students for the practical and professional needs required in today's global fashion industry through innovative design combined with state-of-the art technology, anchored in creative thinking.

About SCAD:

The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution conferring bachelor's and master's degrees to prepare talented students for professional careers. As the most comprehensive art and design university in the world, SCAD offers more than 40 majors and more than 50 minors at distinctive locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia; in Hong Kong; in Lacoste, France; and online through SCAD eLearning. SCAD has more than 20,000 alumni and offers an exceptional education and unparalleled career preparation. The diverse student body, consisting of more than 10,000 students, comes from all 50 United States and nearly 100 countries worldwide. Each student is nurtured and motivated by a faculty of more than 700 professors with extraordinary academic credentials and valuable professional experience. These professors emphasize learning through individual attention in an inspiring university environment. SCAD's innovative curriculum is enhanced by advanced, professional-level technology, equipment and learning resources and has garnered acclaim from respected organizations and publications, including 3D World, American Institute of Architects, BusinessWeek, DesignIntelligence, U.S. News & World Report and the Los Angeles Times. For more information, visit scad.edu.

About ELLE:

ELLE is the No. 1 fashion magazine in the world, with 43 editions, 21 million readers and 6.4 million copies sold every month worldwide. It is also the foundation of numerous brand extensions, including ELLE Decor (25 editions), ELLE A Table (four editions) and ELLE.com (28 websites with 20 million unique visitors). The U.S. edition reaches an audience of 5.6 million readers, who find in ELLE a rich mix of fashion, beauty and culture that lets the reader discover their personal style and public self.

About Maybelline New York:

Maybelline New York is available in more than 129 countries worldwide. As the official makeup sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Maybelline New York combines technologically advanced formulations with on-trend expertise to create accessible cosmetics with a spirited style. For more information, log onto www.maybelline.com, also available in Spanish. Maybe she's born with it, maybe it's Maybelline.

SOURCE Savannah College of Art and Design