NEW YORK, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- GQ today announced Robert Geller as winner of the Second Annual "Best New Menswear Designers in America" project. This competitive initiative, established in 2008 in collaboration with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), was created to recognize the rising stars of American men's fashion design.
The magazine selected six finalists for the 2009 competition, and they were each featured in the February issue. A panel of industry experts -- Thom Browne, American menswear designer; Steve Evans, the Levi's(R) brand vice president of merchandising; Kevin Harter, Bloomingdale's vice president of fashion direction; Steven Kolb, CFDA executive director; Jim Moore, GQ creative director; and Jim Nelson, GQ editor-in-chief -- gathered to select the winner at the conclusion of a presentation event for the designer's fall 2009 collections on Wednesday, February 11, in New York City.
"It was by no means an easy decision -- this is an extremely talented Gang of Six," said Jim Nelson. "All the designers impressed us tremendously with the strength and breadth of their collections, as well as the seriousness with which they approach their work. It's also true that we were wowed by the singularity of Robert Geller's vision, and we think he's a significant -- and welcome -- new force in the American men's fashion scene."
As the winner, Robert Geller will receive a $50,000 cash prize and the opportunity to create a limited-edition collection for the Levi's brand. Geller's collection will debut at Levi.com and be available for a month-long exclusive in all major Bloomingdale's locations at the start of New York Fashion Week in September. He will take part in a mentoring program led by GQ, the Levi's brand, and Bloomingdale's. A select item or outfit from the Robert Geller collection for Levi's will be featured in the September 2009 issue of GQ.
"For me, it was encouraging to see not just good American menswear designers but important menswear designers -- and Robert Geller represents just that," added Thom Browne, a member of the selection panel.
Robert Geller was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1976. In 2001, he graduated with a degree in fashion design from the Rhode Island School of Design and began a traineeship at Marc Jacobs in New York City. Geller launched his eponymous menswear line for fall/winter 2007. The line is currently being sold at over 50 of the world's most influential boutiques, including Isetan, Lane Crawford, and Odin.
Other designers that participated in the 2009 BNMDA competition are: Benjamin Bixby (Andre Benjamin, designer), Rogues Gallery (Alex Carleton, designer), Save Khaki (David Mullen, designer), Shipley & Halmos (Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos, designers), and Yigal Azrouel (Yigal Azrouel, designer).
About the CFDA
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. is a not-for-profit trade association whose membership consists of more than 350 of America's foremost fashion and accessory designers. The CFDA Foundation, Inc., is a separate not-for-profit company organized to raise funds for charity and industry activities. In addition to hosting the annual CFDA Fashion Awards, the organization sponsors key programs, including its scholarship, CFDA Masters, and professional development programs. The CFDA, through the CFDA Foundation, mobilizes its membership to raise funds for important charitable causes: Fashion Targets Breast Cancer and 7th on Sale. For more information, please visit www.CFDA.com.
About Bloomingdale's
Bloomingdale's is America's only nationwide, full-line, upscale department store, and a division of Macy's, Inc. It was founded in 1872 and currently operates 40 stores in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, Minnesota, Georgia, Florida, Nevada, and California. For more information, or to shop anytime, visit www.bloomingdales.com.
About the Levi's brand
Invented in 1873 by Levi Strauss & Co., Levi's jeans are the original, authentic jeans. The Levi's(R) brand offers the widest range of great-fitting jeans on the market, and its iconic jeans are the most widely recognized and often imitated products in the history of apparel. The Levi's brand has captured the attention, imagination, and loyalty of generations of diverse individuals in more than 110 countries around the world and continues to do so today through more than 135 years of jeanswear innovation.
GQ is the leading men's general-interest magazine with a monthly readership of 6.1 million readers. The magazine is published by Conde Nast Publications.
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