August 5th, 2009
From Green Right Now Reports
Fashion Institute of Technology student Jessica Velasquez can soon cycle in style, her own style, after winning a contest to design a jacket, poncho and bag suitable for fashion-conscious bike commuters.
Her winning designs for the “Bike in Style” contest were unveiled this week as the city launched its Summer Streets program, which promotes biking and walking.
The contest and the Summer Streets are both part of Mayor Bloomberg’s program to foster greener practices in the city — and their pairing serves notice that greenie New Yorkers won’t be sacrificing any style impulses to the eco-Gods.
Summer Streets is a celebration of a 6.9-mile route from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park for people to run, bike and walk. It will feature special activities on three Saturday mornings in August, starting on this Saturday the 8th followed by the 15th and 22nd.
The program and the “Bike in Style” contest are being supported by luxury goods firm LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the NYC Department of Transportation and the city of New York. (See Velasquez with a model wearing the jacket she designed, above.)
The contest challenged student designers from the Fashion Institute of Technology to create “stylish, practical and affordable bike gear.” The DKNY division of LVMH-owned Donna Karan International (DKI) mentored the FIT students and developed the prototypes of the winning designs.
Said LVMH Inc. Chairman Renaud Dutreil: “As a citizen company, LVMH is proud to support the efforts of the city and its agencies; this project illustrates the power of public-private collaboration. We remain dedicated to supporting initiatives that enrich people’s lives, improve their health and reinforce New York’s position as a fashion capital.”
LVMH brands include wines and spirits (Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon), apparel and accessories (Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Fendi, Emilio Pucci, Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, Berluti, StefanoBi), parfums (Christian Dior, Givenchy) and watches and jewels (Christian Dior watches, De Beers Diamond Jewellers Ltd).
(Photo credit: LVMH)
