In this photo from Plastics Make it Possible^SM, Former Project Runway contestants, Wesley Nault, center left, and Daniel Feld, center right, of WesFeld, pose with models wearing their line of plastic- based fashions at the Plastics Make it Possible show in New York, Wednesday, Feb 10, 2010.

Actress and jewelry designer Molly Sims, third from left, joins the winners during the unveiling of the duo’s plastic-based fashions.

Here, Molly Sims poses on the red-carpet at the unveiling of WesFeld’s plastic-based fashions .

Thanks to all the designers who entered the Plastics Make it Possible^SM Design Competition, and to those of you who submitted the 15,000+ reviews that helped us choose our winner! More than 160 designers from all over the country submitted their creations, which were posted online and open for review from the fashion community and general public. While WesFeld, the Plastics Make it Possible^SM winners work to finish their line, here is a selection of looks from the submitted designs:

The Plastics Make it Possible^SM design competition began on October 29th and the deadline for submissions was Friday, December 11th.

We’re counting the days until WesFeld debuts the line at Gen Art’s “New Garde” show at New York Fashion Week on February 10. Since we got a sneak peek, we thought we’d share some of the photos we took at WesFeld’s studio:

We’ll be adding photos, video and guest blog posts from the pair as the line develops, so check back often!

Hi, We’re Daniel Feld and Wesley Nault, also known as WesFeld, the design team that won the Plastics Make It Possible^SM designer competition. The response we’ve been getting over the first few weeks, since winning, has been so wonderful! We are so excited to be part of this and begin our journey to New York Fashion Week. So, we thought we’d give everyone some insight as to how we got involved with Plastics Make it Possible^SM, and answer a few of the most popular questions we’ve been asked….

How’s the collection going?
Actually, great. We’re about halfway through designing and finishing the collection we are showing at the New Garde show during New York Fashion Week. It’s very whimsical and fun. The challenge is that we want to design complete looks: accessories, shoes… so we’re working pretty much around-the-clock to realize the vision.

How did you get involved in the competition?
We have been dreaming up this collection for a while. When we saw the Gen Art announcement, we thought it was a perfect fit. We had the two dresses almost done, and because we like working with innovative materials in ways people don’t expect, we thought that we had a good chance.

What does winning the competition mean to you?
To get this grant is just incredible. The funding means that now we have the time to immerse ourselves in our design work, to pay for studio time and rent. We’re just really grateful for the opportunity. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and we’re lucky that our current employers were nice enough to let us out of our day jobs to do this collection.

Especially in today’s economy, it’s really difficult to showcase your art as a young, unestablished designer. We’ve been given a really rare opportunity, and we are putting our hearts and souls into this collection.

Plastic? Fashion?
Oh yes. Plastic-based fabrics are allowing us to realize our vision and innovate in ways no other fabric can compete with. They allow us to be really creative. For example we found this amazing nylon mesh that is just so easy to work with: incredible texture and we can even dye it. It’s great. What many people don’t realize is, nylon is actually made with plastic fiber.

Especially in drape and structure, these plastic-based fabrics give us a really clean look and finish. Fabrics like duchess satin and linen, two commonly used fabrics, leave terrible creases as soon as you wear them. The plastic-based versions are more resilient and don’t do that, which make them incredibly easy to work with.

That’s it for now… back to stitching! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.

Thanks so much!

Dan & Wes

ARLINGTON, VA (January 12, 2010) – Plastics and plastic-based materials continue to rule the runways as the hottest trend in fashion with top designers featuring sky-high Lucite® shoes, lots of sequins and plastic minis in their latest collections. Plastics Make it Possible^SM, an initiative sponsored by the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council, celebrates emerging designers inspired by this trend and is excited to announce WesFeld, a team comprised of two up-and-coming designers, Daniel Feld and Wesley Nault, each of whom was featured on season 5 of the hit television show “Project Runway,” as the grand prize winner of its national design competition in partnership with Gen Art.  The team will receive $10,000 to create and showcase their new collection during 2010 New York Fashion Week.

Announced in October at Gen Art’s “Fresh Faces in Fashion” show in Los Angeles, the nationwide design competition challenged fashion designers to create two dynamic womenswear looks made from plastic and plastic-based fabrics. More than 160 designers from all over the country submitted their creations, which were posted online and open for review from the fashion community and general public. More than 15,000 votes, comments and reviews were generated during the competition, leading to the selection of WesFeld as this year’s winner.

“Designers frequently use plastic-based materials such as nylon, chiffon and sequins in their collections because they allow for extreme versatility and creativity, while also being durable and cost-effective,” said Steve Russell, vice president, Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council. “It’s been inspiring to see the creations and different ways plastics were used to produce such dynamic pieces throughout this competition. WesFeld’s designs demonstrate the true heart of the contest and showcase just how beautiful plastic-based fabrics and accessories can be. We can’t wait to see the full collection debut at 2010 New York Fashion Week!”

WesFeld’s winning designs are whimsical and romantic creations inspired by elements of water and nature. The pale pink evening dress features poly-organza, poly-taffeta and plastic boning to create a shape that resembles a conch sea shell with a pearl inside. The designer’s second look is a more structured and textured dove gray gown made of poly-organza, plastic woven interfacing and plastic boning, with poly-satin piping detail. This gown was inspired by a fossilized exoskeleton of an ancient sea creature and a seahorse’s paneled body.

Both Feld and Nault were formally educated at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and in their early careers have collectively apprenticed and worked alongside such designers as Donna Karan, Melinda Eng, Heatherette, Nicholas Patrou, Marc Jacobs and Zac Posen. The two met when both were contestants on season 5 of “Project Runway” and formed a partnership after discovering that they share similar aesthetics and influences from nature that are evident in their work. The duo strives to push the boundaries of fashion to design their own interpretation of beauty, innovation and fantasy.

“We think it’s interesting that plastic-based materials are fairly common in fashion, yet most people don’t realize that plastic is in many of the garments and accessories they wear on a daily basis,” said Wesley Nault, winner of the national Plastics Make it Possible^SM design competition. “You don’t tend to think about plastic in high-end couture, but plastic-based fabrics are very easy to work with because of their durability and versatility. We were excited to showcase what’s innovative and beautiful about using plastics in fashion through this competition.  We’d like to thank Gen Art and Plastics Make it Possible^SM for helping us fulfill our dream to show our pieces at New York Fashion Week.”

WesFeld’s looks will be showcased alongside some of the industry’s hottest rising talent at Gen Art’s “New Garde” show sponsored by Plastics Make it Possible^SM during 2010 New York Fashion Week on February 10. The collection will be part of live model installations in a dynamic, non-traditional fashion presentation featuring elaborate set-designs enabling designers to create a cohesive mood and environment for their work. Gen Art’s show traditionally attracts over 1,000 attendees; past designers include Project Runway winner Jeffrey Sebelia, Geren Ford, Society for Rational Dress, FORM and Kit Pistol.

To view WesFeld’s submitted designs, as well as selected submissions from other designers, please visit www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com.

About Plastics Make it Possible^SM

Plastics Make it Possible^SM highlights the many ways plastics inspire innovations that improve our lives, solve big problems and help us design a safer, more promising future. This initiative is sponsored by the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council.  For more information, visit www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com.

About Gen Art

Gen Art is the nation’s leading arts and entertainment organization dedicated to showcasing emerging fashion designers, filmmakers, musicians and visual artists. Gen Art produces over 100 events annually, ranging from weeklong film festivals to massive star-studded fashion shows, live music performances, art exhibitions, multimedia events and more. Since 1993 Gen Art has been championing the arts by creating and producing events and exhibits that have helped accelerate the careers of hundreds of young artists.

Though competition was fierce, WesFeld rose to the top with their use of plastics in creating the two looks they submitted.  These wave-like dresses feature materials, such as poly-organza and poly-taffeta, while plastic woven interfacing and plastic boning structure each panel. Even the piping, which gives the dress a satin-like luxury shimmer, is poly. From fiber to fit, these shell inspired gowns truly are made possible by plastics.

Thanks again to all of the talented designers who contributed their and hard work and gorgeous ideas. We hope you all will join us in congratulating Wesley and Daniel as they collect their $10,000 stipend to create their first full collection. Come back often to keep tabs on Wesley and Daniel’s progress as they work toward unveiling their collection at the kickoff of New York Fashion Week 2010!

Here are a few of the shots of the winning looks the team submitted for the competition:

About WesFeld:

WesFeld is a collaborative duo that joined forces to design the future in luxury American fashion.  Formerly competitors on the 5th season of Project Runway, Daniel Feld and Wesley Nault decided to team up shortly after the show wrapped filming in 2008.  Now the two focus their talent and energy on being at the forefront of fashion.

Both were formally educated at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and in their early careers collectively apprenticed with design icons that include Donna Karan, Melinda Eng, Heatherette, Nicholas Patrou, Marc Jacobs and Zac Posen.  Their credentials also include costuming and designing for several theatrical companies, such as Sotu Productions and the Box.  Daniel and Wesley share similar aesthetics and influences from nature, often resulting in a juxtaposition of raw emotional power and focused rational thought.  The duo strives to push the boundaries of fashion to design their own interpretation of beauty, innovation and fantasy.

In 2008, WesFeld received the honor of working with the Steinbrenners to create custom uniforms for the luxury suite staff of the new Yankee Stadium that opened in April of 2009. Since then, the pair has created numerous costumes including show attire for the openings of the Hilton Hotel in Berlin, the Detroit Institute of Art’s Annual Gala, and the Horseshoe Casino in Chicago. Other projects include dresses for Maybelline; People Magazine’s Most Beautiful People event; the Ovarian Cancer Charity Auction; promotional outfits for the Audi A-4 car launch; and an edible vegetable dress for Food & Wine.  In 2009 WesFeld became spokespersons for Brother International, speaking at conferences and hosting more intimate workshops with young aspiring talent at several design schools. While juggling many side projects, the team has worked persistently on a powerful capsule collection.

The press has also taken an interest in the pair.  Daniel and Wesley have appeared on the cover of the New York Post and featured in MTV News, Time Out New York, People Magazine, Yankees Magazine, Maariv, Luxury Fashion, Food and Wine, Noise and Plastique among other publications.

Innovative uses of recycled plastics are multiplying. In the not-too-distant future, the plastic water bottle you recycle one day may show up in your next car. One of Hyundai’s latest concept cars is a crossover coup vehicle called the QarmaQ. A key feature in the QarmaQ is its innovative use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles to create a large portion of the vehicle’s skin. According to GE, the use of plastics, instead of more traditional metal and glass, reduces the weight of the vehicle by 130 pounds. That weight loss translates to 20 gallons in annual fuel savings.

Car seat upholstery also can be made from recycled plastic. And a lot more of the plastics used in today’s cars are being recovered and recycled at the end of the vehicle’s useful life.

Less obvious uses of recycled plastics include the materials that make our homes comfortable and attractive. Mohawk, a leading U.S. carpet manufacturer, recycles nearly three billion plastic bottles each year. Plastic bottles are sorted, ground into fine chips, and then cleaned. These chips are then melted and extruded into fiber and spun into carpet yarn.

If recycled plastic is not on your floor, it may be in your back yard. Composite lumber made from recycled plastic and sawdust is extremely durable and requires very little maintenance. For these reasons and its design capabilities, composite lumber is often a favorite for building decks and fences.

For example, Trex® decking, railing and fencing has all the natural beauty of wood, but doesn’t rot or splinter the way wood can. Trex® composite lumber helps keep about 300,000 tons of plastic and wood scrap out of landfills every year – that results in approximately 600,000,000 pounds annually. And no trees have to be cut to make this innovative decking material. Trex® wood is reclaimed from woodworking operations, used pallets and sawdust to the tune of 300 million pounds a year.

More surprising still, you may be wearing recycled plastic. From high fashion runways to bargain basement stores, “Plastic is the new Black”. Warm fleece jackets, trendy shoes and everyday t-shirts are now being made from fibers spun from recycled plastics. H&M is featuring recycled plastics as part of its line of environmentally friendly fashions. Sears is offering men’s suits made from recycled plastic bottles and faux fur, sequins and sky-high heels made possible by plastics are gracing the runways at fashion events from Los Angeles to New York. (To see more cutting-edge concepts plastics fashions, be sure to check out entries to the Plastics Make it PossibleSM and Gen Art design contest.

Remember that it’s easy to be part recycling movement year round. For tips on how to recycle more of the plastics you use, see Plastics Make it Possible’s How to Guide for Recycling Plastics.

On the way in Kaley flashed her designer plastic purse:

 
A girl’s gotta put her feet up and the Plastic Possible lounge featured bubble sofas, Ghost Chairs and fun toys:

Looks like everyone had a great time at Gen Art’s “Fresh Faces in Fashion” event, kicking off LA Rock Fashion Week, sponsored by Plastics Make it Possible!

We posted even more photos of the event on Flickr, look for a stream from PlasticPossible to see more of Kaley, the models and the plastic fashions.

Fashion and plastic have more in common that you might think; both make it possible to express and (re)invent ourselves in new and unexpected ways. Plastic materials inspire designers’ imaginations and allow artists to create pieces that are cutting-edge, on trend, chic, affordable, and even eco-friendly. From Paris to Milan to New York, plastics are showing up in a variety of innovative and unusual ways including faux fur vests, funky jewelry, 10-inch platform shoes and even sequined mini-dresses made from recycled plastic bottles. This year, plastic and fashion are making the love affair official as the two come together to present the 12th annual “Fresh Faces in Fashion” event at LA Rock Fashion week.

Gen Art’s fashion events have proven to be a successful launch pad for big names, including Zac Posen, Phillip Lim (Development), Rebecca Taylor, and many more. Rock Media, known for producing events in Miami and New York City, will add rock & roll flavor to Gen Art’s 12th annual fashion project. Plastics Make it PossibleSM will be there to put the stretch, shine and structure in every innovative piece of art that walks the runway. This year’s show will run October 29-30 and will take place in Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles to accommodate increased demand for tickets. Five emerging designers will be featured on the runway: Leyendecker, Valerj Pobega, Seneca Rising, Rory Beca and MG Black.

Additionally, actress and fashion-o-phile Kaley Cuoco of The Big Bang Theory will be on hand to kick off the night’s festivities and announce a nationwide fashion design competition. New and established designers will create dynamic womenswear looks made out of plastic, recycled plastic and/or plastic-based fabrics such as chiffon, rayon, nylon and more, to win a $10,000 prize as well as the opportunity to showcase a mini-collection of 10 looks featuring plastics at Gen Art’s show during New York Fashion Week in February 2010. Each innovative look will be posted to Gen Art’s online community where designers can create their own profile page and upload their designs as well as network with others in the fashion community.

Entering its 15th year, the Gen Art “Fresh Faces in Fashion” show, presented by Plastics Make it PossibleSM, traditionally draws over 1,200 attendees.

LOS ANGELES (September 28, 2009) -  Gen Art today announced plans for its 12th annual “Fresh Faces in Fashion” show presented by Plastics Make it Possible^SM, to take place on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at the Peterson Automobile Museum in Los Angeles. The “Fresh Faces” show will serve as the opening show of Rock Fashion Week L.A., an event consisting of three days of fashion shows, events and celebrations, to run until,  October 31.

The show will feature seven emerging designers, including womenswear designers Leyendecker, Seneca Rising and Rory Beca, as well as menswear designer MG Black. Additionally, there will be a special showcase for “Fresh Faces” alumni Alicia Lawhon, who will present the runway debut of her new line, Reclaimed in L.A.

There will be a pre-reception at 7pm, followed by the evening’s legendary runway show at 8pm. Post-show there will be a cocktail reception lounge from 9-11pm honoring the evening’s designers as well as the chosen “Fresh Faces” accessory designers including The Generic Man (men’s and women’s shoes), Ludevine (fine jewelry), CC Skye (bags) and Stampd L.A. (sneakers).

This year’s show marks the debut of Gen Art’s new partner Plastics Make it Possible^SM, a program sponsored by America’s plastic makers through the American Chemistry Council. Plastics Make it Possible^SM highlights the many ways plastics inspire innovations that improve our lives, solve big problems and help us design a safer, more promising future.

Gen Art’s “Fresh Faces in Fashion” is the largest and most recognized program showcasing emerging designers in the United States. The program recently celebrated its 15^th Anniversary during New York Fashion Week on September 15, 2009 and its Chicago show will be the Official Closing Show for Chicago Fashion Focus Week on October 24.

“With one of our most impressive designer slates to date, we are very excited to be bringing Fresh Faces in Fashion to its new home at the new Rock Fashion Week L.A.,” said Ian Gerard, Gen Art’s CEO. “We think that Rock Fashion Week is a well needed vehicle to successfully promote fashion in Los Angeles and the centrally located Peterson Automobile Museum will to help fashion reconnect with the young Hollywood scene.”

Gen Art recently merged with Rock Media & Entertainment, an organization that has quickly established itself as a powerful new player in branded entertainment, media and fashion.  Both companies will continue to produce a wide variety of entertainment events under their respective brands,which will provide extensive and varied content for their media and corporate partners.

Joining Plastics Make it Possible^SM in supporting Fresh Faces in Fashion are Hachette Fillapachi, The Los Angeles Times, Menage a Trois wines, 944 Magazine, Sephora (show’s cosmetic partner), and Unite Eurotherapy (show’s hair care-partner).

On September 29^th, Gen Art will celebrate their designer slate announcement at a launch party for the show entitled UNITE Unveiled hosted by the show’s hair care partner taking place at the Mondrian Hotel’s Skybar hosted by Kristen Cavalarri.

A limited number of tickets are available to fashion enthusiasts for Fresh Faces in Fashion Los Angeles with prices ranging from $55-85. For more information on the event, please visit the Web site: http://www.genart.org/freshfacesinfashion/2009/los-angeles.

About Gen Art

Gen Art is the nation’s leading arts and entertainment organization, dedicated to promoting and supporting the best emerging talent in fashion, film, music and the visual arts. Created to propel the careers of up-and-coming fashion and accessories designers, Gen Art’s fashion events have proven to be a successful launch pad for big names, including Zac Posen, Phillip Lim (Development), Rebecca Taylor, Eugenia Kim, Sari Gueron, Duckie Brown, and Los Angeles alumni which include Katy Rodriguez, Geren Ford, Louis Verdad, Michelle Mason, Eduardo Lucero, Jared Gold, Rami Kashou, Jeffrey Sebelia, and many more.

Gen Art received the Inspiration Award at the Los Angeles Fashion Awards in 2006. Gen Art was also tapped to manage the nationwide castings for Bravo TV’s Project Runway, seasons I, III, IV & V, staged the fashion episode on Donald Trumps NBC hit ‘The Apprentice’, and has been featured in episodes of the CW’s “Stylista” and “America’s Next Top Model”.

About Plastics Make it Possible^SM

Plastics Make it Possible^SM highlights the many ways plastics inspire innovations that improve our lives, solve big problems and help us design a safer, more promising future. This program is sponsored by the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council. For more information, visit www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com.

###

Media Contact:  Alison Kennedy
alison@kpr-inc.com
323-933-6800 x 1