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As fashion icon Coco Chanel once said, “Fashion changes, but style endures.” The annual Danier Design Challenge at Ryerson University proved that leather jackets are no exception - the impressive variety of designs reflected the many trends of current fashion, yet were all undeniably stylish. The event saw one talented Ryerson student designer take home a $5000 prize for her winning jacket design that will be included in Danier’s Fall 2012 line.

Currently in its third year, the Danier Design Challenge is an exclusive partnership between Ryerson and Danier. Each fall, third-year fashion students are challenged to design an original women’s leather jacket.  The challenge begins with sketches submitted by all entrants; this year 63 students took part. Over two elimination rounds, the group of 63 was whittled down to 15 students. Of those, a judges’ panel selected the top ten students, who must create their own designs in leather provided by Danier. Videos of the final ten designs as worn by models are created and posted to Danier’s website for public voting. Submissions are adjudicated by a panel of judges that includes Robert Ott, Chair of the Ryerson School of Fashion and fashion guru and television host Jeanne Beker. The panel weighs the results of online voting in their final decision.

Last week, the top ten showcased their jacket designs at an awards ceremony, held at Ryerson’s Ted Rogers School of Management.  The designers, their family and friends, members of the fashion media as well as the Ryerson community were on hand to see Meagan Johnston take home top honours for her design entitled ‘Ace of Scarabs’. Johnston’s winning jacket is made of black leather; it features waterfall detailing in the front and has a numbers of straps that can be worn across the body to allow the wearer a variety of looks.  In addition to a $5,000 cash prize, Johnston’s winning design will be sold in select Danier stores across Canada as part of Danier’s Fall 2012 line.  Second place was earned by Jayson Araja for his cream and black leather jacket design named ‘Golightly’. Araja will be taking home $3,000. Third place, and a cash prize of $2000, was secured by Brie Reid for her brown leather aviator style jacket entitled ‘Aviation Versatility’.

Third-year Ryerson School of Fashion student Meagan Johnston (right) with her winning jacket design ‘Ace of Scarabs’.  Johnston’s jacket design was inspired by scarab beetles that were used to protect Egyptian tombs – the concealing nature of her jacket reflects the way scarabs once protected the dead. As the winner of the Danier Design Challenge, a collaboration between the Ryerson School of Fashion and Danier Leather, Johnston was awarded $5,000 in prize money. Her winning jacket will be available in select Danier stores for fall 2012.

Photo Credit: Dave Upham/Ryerson University

Third-year Ryerson School of Fashion student Jayson Araja of Vancouver (right) took home the second place prize of $3,000 in this year’s Danier Design Challenge at the Ryerson School of Fashion. Araja’s jacket was inspired by the classic beauty of Audrey Hepburn in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Photo Credit: Dave Upham/Ryerson University

Third place in this year’s Danier Design Challenge was captured by Vancouver native Brie Reid (left). Reid’s design includes a detachable fur vest for extra warmth and is inspired by the female pilots of World War II.

Photo Credit: Dave Upham/Ryerson University

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To view all top ten designs and video submissions, please visit the Danier Design Challenge Website at http://www.danierdesignchallenge.com/

MEDIA CONTACT:
Johanna VanderMaas
Public Affairs
Ryerson University
Office: 416-979-5000 x 4630
johanna.vandermaas@ryerson.ca
@RyersonNews

If you require this in another format, please contact Ryerson University Public Affairs at 416-979-5000 x 7134.