Vancouver Designer Ivanka Tanafranca Gets Ready for Cool Vs. Cruel 2009

Vancouver, Canada, August 29, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Vancouver fashion designer Ivanka Tanafranca is participating in The Humane Society of the United States’ Cool vs. Cruel 2009 Fifth Annual Fashion Design Competition. Ivanka has chosen to use a Michael Kors design as her inspiration, using cruelty-free alternatives to fur. She is cutting out the pieces, getting ready to sew it all together using two shades of burlap in place of the fur in the original design, along with black polyester.

Cool vs. Cruel is an annual fashion design contest that challenges the students from Art Institutes all over North America to design and create an evening wear, outerwear or suit garment that uses cruelty-free alternatives to animal fur, using elements from one of four provided runway looks. This year the designs the students have to choose from are by Michael Kors, Burberry Prorsum, Thakoon or Alexander McQueen.

“Each year over 50 million animals—including millions of dogs and cats—are killed for their fur worldwide. Although the fur industry does its best to keep the cruelty out of sight, suffering is a common ingredient in all methods of procuring fur, from fur factory farming to trapping. Many, perhaps more than half, of these animals are killed specifically for fur trim—it is not a by-product.” – The Humane Society of the United States

The Grand Award is an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City for an awards ceremony, an all-expenses-paid five day internship opportunity in NYC with an acclaimed designer involved with The Humane Society of the United States’ Fur-Free Campaign, and an announcement in HSUS press release and web story.

Ivanka is thrilled to be part of this special event, as it is a great cause. If you live in Vancouver, BC, come check out the local talent! The event is at 7pm, Thursday September 17 at the Art Institute of Vancouver (Renfrew Campus).

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