Fleece jackets in the office, cargo pants for business trips, and hardshells on the way to the opera. Is sport just in fashion’, or is there more behind this? What is happening here and why? Where are the roots of the dynamic fashion segment of “sports inspired fashion”?

The European design contest “sports inspired fashion award” is searching for answers to these questions. It is being awarded by the Stiftung der Deutschen Bekleidungsindustrie (German Apparel Industry Foundation). The goal of the independent foundation established 1977 by the fashion entrepreneur Klaus Steilmann is to point the way ahead for the next generation of designers and promote their development. Design students in the fourth semester or higher, who are studying at a European University or Fashion School, can enter the contest. Work by interdisciplinary teams and collaborations with companies are especially favored.

The task of the contest is to reflect changed clothing behavior and to design clothing, which takes the emotional and functional needs of customers seriously. In addition to documentation (in German or English), analysis and the concept, a presentation chart and one outfit must be submitted. Schoeller, Polartec and Pertex are providing selected functional textiles to this end, which can be acquired from www.extremtextil.de.

A jury composed of internationally experienced experts from design, industry, marketing, media and trade selects the prizewinners according to set criteria. In addition to a prize worth a total of 7,000 euros, the winners will receive a comprehensive communication package as well as paid internships at Berghaus (outdoor clothing, backpacks and shoes) in Sunderland, England, and at Girbaud Active in Kitzbühel, Austria. In addition, the best portfolio will be presented on www.wgsn.com, the website of the Worth Global Style Network.

Registration deadline for free entry is December 17, 2004, and the submission deadline is January 11, 2005. The prize will be awarded within the framework of ispovision - international trade show for fashion inspired by sports – from February 6 till 9, 2005 in Munich. The award-winning outfits will be exhibited at a separate booth in Hall A4 of the New Munich Trade Fair Centre during the complete trade fair.

Additional information is available at www.stiftung-bekleidungsindustrie.de or www.ispovision.com

Press contact:

Stefanie Gerhardt
Messe München GmbH 
Marketing and Communication 
gerhardt@messe-muenchen.de 
Tel.: (+49 89) 949 20 610 

Joachim Schirrmacher
German Apparel Industry Foundation
Member of the Foundation Advisory Board
mail@joachim-schirrmacher.de
Tel.: (+49 40) 25 31 88 60

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