DMD Lab is a pilot project from DMD Insight, a full-service integrated marking agency known for its work with clients such as The Guggenheim Museum, Narciso Rodriguez, and Hunter Douglas. In a strategic decision to invest in a new generation of fashion labels, DMD Lab is providing thousands in pro bono marketing services to establish up-and-coming fashion brands and foster promising design talent with a sustainable focus.

To begin, DMD Lab leveraged relationships with fashion editors and fashion industry stakeholders to get the word out about their emerging designer competition, which resulted in about 100 applicants. The DMD Lab team then visited the finalists in their home studios, finally settling on two winners, chosen for their point of view and commitment to sustainability – principles at the core of DMD Insight and DMD Lab.

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Photo courtesy of Erica Jackson

Charleston magazine, producers of the recent Charleston Fashion Week, have announced the winner of their 2009 Emerging Designer Competition: Southeast – Marysia Reeves. Reeves’  ballerina-meets-punk collection of swimwear, beach cover-ups and dresses earned endorsements from the judges and a standing ovation from the enthusiastic crowd.

Celebrity judges sat front row during the shows on Saturday, March 28th in Marion Square as three designers presented their spring collections before an
audience of more than 500. Judges included accessories designer Mary Norton, Emmy Award-wining costume designer Dana Campbell, Lacoste CEO Bob Siegel, Project Runway’s Mychael Knight, and Charleston magazine style editor Ayoka Lucas.

A former ballerina, the Polish-born designer attended school at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles and interned with Milly in New York. This is Marysia’s debut summer/resort 2008 collection.

Reeve’s takes home a $1,000 check courtesy of the Art Institute of Charleston, a booth at AmericasMart® Atlanta Apparel Market in August and a runway show at Charleston Fashion Week 2010. The prize was awarded by internationally-renowned designer Cynthia Rowley along with presenting sponsor, the Art Institute of Charleston.

The two other finalists were Alena Fede, who showed a strong and structured, yet feminine and romantic collection named Fede Grada, and Lindsey Carter, who debuted her Troubador line inspired by a fusion of New York City downtown punk and uptown elegance.

For more information on Charleston Fashion Week, listen to this recent Fashion PR Podcast with PR Couture and Creative Director Ayoka Lucas.

Cherry Heering liqueur, the original “Cherry Brandy” has established the first Heering Accessorize 2009 World Championship in Fashion Design. We’re excited about this unique event as it will showcase the world’s most talented and aspiring fashion designers who will utilize their cocktail attire design skills.

Inspired by fashion and mixology, the event is a design competition and the winner will be awarded with his/her own runway show at Copenhagen Fashion Week (Spring/Summer 2010). Publicist Cece Feinberg advised that this is a global competition with 13 countries competing, and the U.S. qualifying rounds will be conducted online at www.heering.com.

Celebrated designer, Charlotte Ronson will be judging the U.S. designer participants. “Charlotte Ronson is the perfect complement to our deeply established roots as the ultimate fashion accessory brand,” stated Adéle Nilsson, CEO, The Xante Company/Peter F. Heering.

One design winner from the online contest will be flown to Singapore by the contest’s sponsor, Singapore Airlines, and the winner will then take his/her couture to compete in the global grand finale at the legendary Raffles Hotel on June 4, 2009. The Raffles Hotel is home to Cherry Heering’s iconic cocktail, the Singapore Sling.

In order to participate, design contestants must be a second year or more design student, or a newly established (1-3 years) fashion designer with his/her own business. The designed cocktail dress must be inspired by one of the six Cheery Heering cocktails. The categories are: Classic, Romantic, Exotic, Vintage, Dramatic and Rock n’ Roll. Designers need to submit a fashion illustration of the dress, detailed technical drawing, a technical description of the dress in words, a description and photo of fabric and curriculum vitae.

The deadline for submitting designs has been extended to March 15, 2009, and the winner will be announced in April. Good luck to designer participants, and let us know if you’ll be participating as we’ll be sure to clank glasses and drink to your success!