GenArt to revive fresh faces competition

GenArt, the 20-year-old organization famous for helping to launch careers in television, film, fashion, and art will be doing what they do best again. The organization has announced they will be reviving their Fresh Faces competition, a competition to help jumpstart the careers of new fashion talent. The event will take place this year on September 9 during fashion week.

Keri Ingvarson, the new co-owner of Gen-Art will produce the show. The event will include a fashion jury led by fashion consultant/producer and former IMG executive Christina Neault, supported by Betsey Johnson; fashion TV personality, host Robert Verdi, actress, model and lifestyle blogger Lydia Hearst, and Gen Art Fresh Faces designer alumnus Duckie Brown. This is the first time GenArt has showed at NYFW since 2012.

The finalists of this years GenArt competition will be lucky enough to receive opportunities that extend beyond fashion week. Members of the GenArt jury will continue to mentor them, and they will also gain retail opportunities through GenArt's showroom, and a holiday concept shop through a retail/e-commerce partner that has not been named yet. The 2015 winner will also be awarded a year-long incubation program in partnership with GenArt that will include strategy, financial, and sales marketing resources.

GenArt is seeking nominations through 50 of the world's best fashion programs, inviting institutions to nominate their alumni who they feel would benefit best from this program. Ingvarsson said their goal is to find "sophomore talent," thus eliminating the rookies. They are hoping to select two women's wear designer and one men's wear designer. GenArt first launched in 1995 and were a force behind the likes of Zac Posen and Phillip Lim rise to fame. Andreas Ingvarsson and Keri Ingvarsson acquired the company last November, and they seem to be doing great things with it already.