NEW YORK, August 23, 2002/ --- Gen Art has tapped the three designers that will participate in its New York Fashion Week presentation next month.

The non-profit group, which promotes emerging talent in not only fashion, but film, music and the visual arts, has chosen Maria Marta Facchinelli, Rami Kashou and Tawfik Mounayer to showcase their latest creations at the Gen Art/Nokia Spring 2003 show in Bryant Park.

The international threesome - Facchinelli hails from Argentina, Kashou was raised in Jerusalem and Mounayer has Palestinian roots - will strut their stuff (about 20 pieces each) in the tents on September 21 at 6pm, right before the Ralph Lauren show.

Looks will range from Facchinelli's Victorian aesthetic with a South American twist to Kashou's asymmetrical cuts to Mounayer's glamorous silhouettes.

The three designers have already been linked to Gen Art in the past - a prerequisite for participating in its Bryant Park event.

Facchinelli and Kashou both participated in the Fresh Faces in Fashion program, and Mounayer was part of the Styles 2000 competition in New York.

The purpose of the Gen Art/Nokia shows, explains fashion director Mary Gehlhar, is "to take people who have already shown, who are already building businesses and doing consistent collections, and help take them to the next level."

Facchinelli, Kashou and Mounayer are certainly not novices.

Their designs are already featured in upscale boutiques like Fred Segal and Louis of Boston, and celebs like Jennifer Lopez and Mena Suvari have worn their clothes.

Gen Art has been producing fashion events since 1995, and this will be its fourth season doing a show in the tents.

Its events have helped launch names like Rebecca Taylor, Zac Posen, Shoshanna, Chaiken and Rafe.

Nokia has partnered with Gen Art's fashion program for the last three years.