Outdoor Retailer Promotes Outdoor Fashion with ORWM's "Project OR"
After a successful "Project OR" at Summer Market 2008, OR Winter Market will host a student design competition highlighting the supply story behind OR
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SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. – Nov. 20, 2008 – Outdoor Retailer today announced it will host the second cycle of “Project OR,” a 48-hour concept-to-prototype student design competition meant to inspire innovative winter outdoor fashions, in conjunction with Outdoor Retailer Winter Market held Jan. 22-25, 2009, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Project OR at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2008 proved to be an engaging forum for showcasing the future of outdoor industry fashion through each contestant’s product development story,” said Kenji Haroutunian, Outdoor Retailer show director. “Project OR fuses fresh design ideas and legendary outdoor design minds together in an exciting format that brings more value to the design-minded attendee. It also puts forth the real challenges professional designers face as they try to blend function, fashion and performance. OR is excited to introduce young designers to our community at OR Winter Market.”
Project OR commissions five hand-picked design students from top design programs around the country to produce a garment prototype that is original, an innovative use of performance and eco-friendly materials, and has a practical application for the outdoor market.
Once initial garment designs are complete, contestants turn their drawings into product using the latest fabrics, zippers and other clothing components provided by participating supplier exhibitors. With sourcing complete, contestants spend the remainder of the 48-hour deadline at their work station (equipped with sewing machines, cutting tables, pressing equipment and tools) building their final prototypes.
Project OR’s panel of judges, comprised of OR-selected designers and industry trend-setters, review each contestant’s final prototype and presentation on the last day of the show (Jan. 25). The winning student receives an all-expenses-paid trip to Outdoor Retailer Summer Market ’09 and a profile in Textile Intelligence.
Project OR Winter Market competitors are filmed in a reality-competition type format that begins with an initial Design Brief and follows them through the conception, sourcing, production and final presentation stages of the competition.
Show attendees are encouraged to follow the students’ progress in designated areas throughout the show and via streaming video on the OR website. Attendees can submit their vote for the Project OR Attendee’s Choice Award. A ballot box for this award will be by the contestant work stations throughout the competition.
This cycle of Project OR is sponsored by fabric supplier Concept III. For more information about Project OR sponsorship opportunities, please contact Marisa Nicholson at marisa.nicholson@nielsen.com.
About Outdoor Retailer
Outdoor Retailer (OR), produced by Nielsen Business Media of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., is a full service trade show company that creates, markets and produces high-quality expos and educational conferences. OR is the leading outdoor industry business-to-business event management company, bringing together manufacturers, retailers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of outdoor recreation. Now celebrating more than 25 years of successful events, Outdoor Retailer (www.outdoorretailer.com) gathers approximately 40,000 attendees on a semi-annual basis for its Winter and Summer Market shows.
The next opportunity to preview the future of the outdoor industry will start at the 6th Annual Backcountry Base Camp at Snowbasin ski resort on January 21, 2009, followed by the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market at the Salt Palace Convention Center from January 22-25, 2009 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Outdoor Retailer Summer Market will bring the best of summer outdoor brands to Salt Lake City, Utah at the Open Air Demo from July 19-20, 2009 and the Trade Show from July 21-24, 2009.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Maura Lansford, SOAR Communications, 801-523-3730, mlansford@soarcomm.com or
Chip Smith, SOAR Communications, 801-523-3730, csmith@soarcomm.com
