Francisco Costa, creative director of Calvin Klein Collection for women, will receive the 2008 Spirit of Design Award at the Philadelphia University Fashion Show, which will take place Wednesday, April 30th, at the Academy of Music.

Costa, a fashion innovator who also has worked for top design houses Gucci, Balmain Couture and Oscar de la Renta, presented his first Calvin Klein Collection in spring 2004.  He was named Womenswear Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2006 and was recently nominated again for 2008.

“We are thrilled to welcome Francisco Costa, one of the world’s top fashion designers, to the Philadelphia University Fashion Show and we are honored to present him with the 2008 Spirit of Design Award,” said Clara Henry, director of the Fashion Design Program. “Costa’s work is beautifully rendered and uncompromising.  He takes a minimalist approach by defining shapes through skillful tailoring and attention to line.  He is truly an inspiration to our student designers who soon will be making their own marks in the fashion industry.”

Philadelphia University’s Fashion Show is an annual gala that showcases the best of each year’s fabulous, colorful, creative and innovative student fashion designs.  Nearly 2,200 students and their families, faculty members, designers, and fashion and apparel industry professionals are expected to turn out for the typically sold-out event, proceeds of which go to the FIA Scholarship Fund.

Bill Henley and Lori Wilson, co-hosts of The 10! Show on NBC10, will once again emcee the Fashion Show.  This spring, ten fashion design students have been competing to be the top designer in the second Philadelphia University/ NBC10 Runway Challenge, a fashion design reality show that has been airing Mondays on The 10! Show. 

Each week, students have been given a design challenge and, after a runway show, judges eliminated one student from the competition.  In one exciting episode, Eagles Quarterback Donovan McNabb was a guest judge for the casual menswear competition. The winner of Runway Challenge will be chosen after a runway show on April 28, and highlights of the competition will be shown at the Fashion Show.

The annual Fashion Show is the culmination of years of study and hands-on practical work for Philadelphia University’s Fashion Design students.                                                                                  

“Our students work extremely hard on this event, and it’s a wonderful evening of elegant, innovative and creative fashion,” Henry said. “The event celebrates the best of this year’s student designs, and we are pleased that a number of designers and fashion industry representatives come to have a fun, exciting night and scout for the design talent of the future.”

Sponsors for the 2008 Fashion Show include Commerce Bank, Independence Blue Cross, Jones Apparel Group, Lane Bryant, Mothers Work, Parkhurst Dining Services, Apple Inc., Canine Partners for Life and Barbizon of Ardmore.  Additionally, Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, the parent company of  Calvin Klein Inc., will serve as a supporting sponsor of the evening, in recognition of Costa as the recipient of this year’s Spirit of Design Award.

The Philadelphia University Fashion Show is produced by the campus chapter of the Fashion Industries Association, which includes students in the Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Apparel Management programs. 

For ticket information, call Public Relations at 215.951.2851.