Harlequin, a company synonymous with romance, launched the Harlequin 21st Century Wedding Gown search earlier this year. Fashion design students in the United States and Canada were invited to submit design concepts for their vision of the ultimate wedding gown. Over 300 entries have been submitted, representing emerging talent from close to 40 design schools across North America. Twenty-eight of the submissions have been chosen as the semi-finalists.

"We are looking for a one-of-a-kind gown that truly exemplifies love and romance," says Katherine Orr, Vice President of Public Relations, Harlequin Enterprises Limited. "This is truly a golden opportunity for aspiring designers to make their mark on the fashion world," adds Orr. "And Harlequin is providing them with a unique platform to showcase their talent." The Harlequin 21st Century Wedding Gown search is the first of its kind in North America. "We are absolutely thrilled to help support up-and-coming designers and to shape the future of a bright and successful fashion industry," says Orr.

An expert panel of judges from the United States and Canada -- all leaders in their respective fields of fashion and media -- will review the wedding gown designs and select the winner. The panel of judges from the U.S. include Myra Walker, Associate Curator, Costume Exhibit Metropolitan Museum of Art; Millie Martini Bratten, Editor-in-Chief of BRIDE'S; and Allana Nadal, fashion designer. The panel of judges from Canada include Crys Stewart, Editor of WEDDINGBELLS; Alexandra Palmer, Fashion Costume Curator, Royal Ontario Museum; Shelley Cinnamon, Art Director, Harlequin Enterprises Limited and renowned Canadian fashion designers Robin Kay, Joeffer Caoc and Tricia Cochran. Each of the 28 semi-finalists will be judged against six categories of criteria: the designer's aesthetic sense; originality; wearability and marketability; practical production value; and fashion forwardness.

In addition to our panel of judges, Harlequin has invited consumers to participate in the judging by casting a vote for their favourite design on eHarlequin.com.

The designer whose wedding gown best exemplifies romance in the 21st century will be awarded a $2,500 U.S. cash prize. The Harlequin 21st Century Wedding Gown will be unveiled in the first Quarter of 2001 and will tour across North America with Harlequin's wedding celebration display tour, "A Walk Down the Aisle."