LOS ANGELES, Oct 22, 2003/ FW/ -- On Thursday, October 30 at 8:00 p.m., Gen Art and Nikon will present the runway debuts and standing installations from 12 of the most exciting new talents in fashion. The show will take place at the newly renovated Historic Gas Company Lofts at 810 S. Flower, Los Angeles, CA, located on the corner of 8th, just two blocks from the downtown Standard Hotel.

A reception beginning at 7:30pm will feature the creations of four accessory designers in custom-made installations constructed by the designers. At 8:00pm, the runway show will feature six womenswear and two menswear designers, who will each show eight looks from their Spring 2004 collections.

For the first time this year, in addition to showcasing emerging talent from the west coast, Gen Art Los Angeles will showcase an exceptional emerging fashion talent from Japan. Gen Art has a track record of having shown various designers from the UK and Europe at past New York Fresh Faces in Fashion shows.

This year’s featured runway designers are: Ballroom (women’s contemporary line from Japan), Brian Lichtenberg (edgy contemporary sportswear), Editte Keshishyan (women's sportswear), Lemon Twist (women's sportswear), Obedient Sons (contemporary menswear), Oliver Twist (women’s knitwear), Ryan Roberts (contemporary menswear), and Shay Todd (swimwear). Featured Accessory designers are: Em LaLa handbags, Gabriela Artigas fine jewelry, Calleen Cordero handcrafted shoes and iRonni Kapos jewelry.

As in past years, a special Selection Committee of respected editors and fashion professionals assisted in the curation of this high profile showcase. The committee for this year includes: Alisa Loftin at Aero & Co., Amanda Lutrell-Garrigus at Angeleno Magazine, Amber Gabard at Blonde, Barbara Kramer at Designers and Agents, Evelyn Ungvari at Diavolina, Al Stewart at DNR, John Eshaya and Nina Garduno at Ron Herman, Marlien Rentmeester at Lucky, Ben Ospital at MAC, Sarah Stewart at Maxfield, Jade Chang at SOMA Magazine, Lisa Love at Vogue Magazine, and Rose Apodaca-Jones and Kim Friday at Womens Wear Daily.

At the show, Gen Art and Florida Citrus Grapefruit Juice will also present a special accessory design competition award entitled “Sass in a Glass. The competition began with an open call to all North American fashion designers, challenging them to create their handbag interpretation of “Sass in a Glass”.

Gen Art will showcase the designs of the five finalists at the event, who include Em’Lala, Hand Maid, Hob Nob Designs, Pastiche, Curliegirl, Jixiki by Janine Hunn, and Ayay.

The winning designer will receive a cash prize of $5,000, which will be awarded at the show by a celebrity fashion industry judge.

Gen Art is also proud to announce that the Fresh Faces in Fashion program is expanding to the top four markets nationwide.

The Fresh Faces in Fashion program will have its first Midwest edition in Chicago on November 13th at the Park West Theater. The show will feature at least one Gen Art alumni designer from Los Angeles and one from New York, as well as new Midwest based fashion talent. In March 2004, the program will also expand to Miami.

The Fresh Faces in Fashion L.A. event is also supported by Acura, Absolut Vanilia Vodka, Heineken, Ecru New York, L’Oreal Feria, Fresh Look Contacts, Special K, and Vincent Longo cosmetics.

www.genart.org