Released on: November 6, 2007, 11:17 am

Press Release Author: The HSUS & The Art Institutes

Industry: Apparel & Fashion

Press Release Summary: The HSUS & The Art Institutes
Announce Winners of Cool vs. Cruel Fashion Competition


Press Release Body: NEW YORK (Nov. 5, 2007) - Today, The Humane Society of the
United States, with The Art Institutes, announced the winners in the third annual
Cool vs. Cruel Fashion Design Competition.

Jolie Benner from The Art Institute of Portland was named this year's grand prize
winner. As grand-prize winner, Benner will receive a trip to the Cool vs. Cruel
awards ceremony in New York City on November 8, 2007 and a five-day internship with
a designer.

The Cool vs. Cruel competition encourages the next generation of designers enrolled
in The Art Institutes fashion programs throughout North America, to produce
fur-free, animal-friendly fashions by replacing real fur. Benner's winning design is
a short yellow Tyvek dress with a simulated fur collar, a chic approach to the use
of manmade materials to re-create a fur look.

"These student designers are demonstrating that fashion and animal cruelty don't
have to be synonymous. You can design beautiful and stylish garments without the use
of animal products," said Kristin Leppert, director of the Fur-Free Campaign for The
Humane Society of the United States. "Today's consumers are demanding
animal-friendly, fur-free apparel."

Celebrity judges and host committee members for this year's competition include:
Adam Kimmel, Adele Lutz, Alison Mosshart, Arden Wohl, Benjamin Cho, Casey Affleck,
Catherine Holstein, Charlotte Ronson, China Chow, Claire Bernard, Cynthia Rowley,
Erin Fetherston, Hope Atherton, Inder Bedi, Jamie Burke, Jay McCarroll, Joaquin
Phoenix, Kate Elson, Liv Tyler, Liz Vap, Mandie Erickson, Marc Bouwer, Mary Gehlhar,
Melissa Bent, Mick Rock, Mickey Boardman, Mickey Madden, Neville Wakefield, Rain
Phoenix, Shelly Vella, Sarah Sophie Flicker, Simon Hammerstein, Stacey Bendet,
Stella McCartney, Stephen Petronio, Sue Stemp, Summer Phoenix, Tim Gunn, Victoria
Bartlett, and Waris Ahluwalia.

Many of the judges and host committee members will attend the awards ceremony on
Thursday, November 8 from 7-9 PM at 122 West 26th Street (between 6th and 7th
Avenues) in New York City, to celebrate the student designers and their winning
garments. (Invite only, please email requests to karlie@seventhhousepr.com). The
evening's performances will include papercranes (Rain Phoenix, Mike Amish, Robb
Buono, Dave Lebleu, Andy Lord and Myles Matheny) and DJ Paul Sevigny.

Nathan Carter from The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and Julia An from The Art
Institute of Seattle placed second and third in the Competition.

According to Bruce E. Dempsey, Vice President, Academic Affairs Specialist for The
Art Institutes, Cool vs. Cruel gives students "an opportunity to showcase their
fashion design talents and their ability to be resourceful, creative, and
imaginative in the way they design. This is an important exercise because these
students are the future of the fashion industry."

The finalists' garments will be featured at the November 8 awards ceremony. To view
the designs, and learn more about the Cool vs. Cruel Competition visit:
http://www.artinstitutes.edu/Competitions/coolvscruel.aspx?prid=CVC_1007_001_pr and
www.humanesociety.org/cvcvote07. The public can also vote for their favorite design
at www.humanesociety.org/cvcvote07 until November 7, with the winner being crowned
"People's Choice."

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation\'s largest animal protection
organization - backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a
half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through
advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting
cruelty-On the Web at humanesociety.org.

The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu) is a system of over 35 education
institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of
design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.

Contact:

Jacki Muller
Vice President, Public Relations
The Art Institutes
Office: 412.995.7262
jpmuller@aii.edu

Heather Sullivan
The Humane Society of the United States
301.548.7778,
hsullivan@humanesociety.org

Event Contact:

Karlie Kayser
Seventh House PR
646.619.6837
karlie@seventhhousepr.com

Web Site: http://www.humanesociety.org/cvcvote07

Contact Details: Jacki Muller
Vice President, Public Relations
The Art Institutes
Office: 412.995.7262
jpmuller@aii.edu

Heather Sullivan
The Humane Society of the United States
301.548.7778,
hsullivan@humanesociety.org

Event Contact:

Karlie Kayser
Seventh House PR
646.619.6837
karlie@seventhhousepr.com