Sparks, MD (August 27, 2009) — In January 2009, Fila (http://www.fila.com) and James Blake entered into a product collaboration to develop a co-branded apparel, footwear and accessories collection with a trademark to be designed by James. Fila’s design team and James joined forces to create a collection that was inspired by James, his life and interests and that incorporates the heritage of the Fila brand with a contemporary twist inspired by Blake’s signature style.

James spent several months searching for the name for the brand. In the end, he selected Thomas Reynolds, the first and middle name of his father. James often refers to his father as a superhero, so it was not surprising that his name was chosen for the brand. After months of working with Fila’s design team, Fila and James Blake will launch Thomas Reynolds at the 2009 US Open in New York.

According to Blake, “I wanted to create a line with Fila because I have learned a lot about tennis fashion throughout my career. I felt that I could create a line that is functional and stylish both on and off the court. Collaborating with Fila and their long history in tennis and sportswear made sense. It was the perfect fit!”

James will debut the fall 2009 collection during his first match at the US Open. The collection is branded with the Thomas Reynolds R-dot logo and the linear Fila logo. The fall styles incorporate a campanula, peacoat (navy) and white color combination. Campanula is inspired by James’ love of collegiate basketball and his favorite team from North Carolina. James wanted the line to include classic tennis looks. The fall collection consists of two polos (raglan sleeve and open placket), crew neck shirts (coolmax pique and tencel), shorts and warm-up. The line has a distinct nod to Fila’s tennis heritage with pinstripe detailing on one of the crew neck shirts, open placket and reversible collar on the polo, and athletic taping on the shoulder of the raglan polo. The open placket polo and solid crew neck incorporate the sustainable fabric, tencel. The warm up is a more refined fleece and the inside of the hooded jacket reverses from navy to campanula. The price points of the collection range from $45 – $65.

“I wanted the line to be more transitional,” said Blake, “and include styles that can be worn on-court, yet are stylish enough to wear for a night out.”

Fila’s Chairman Gene Yoon said, “Fila is proud to have the opportunity to develop a business venture with a top American tennis player whose personal style aligns so well with the Fila brand.”

Fila and James Blake will partner with Lord & Taylor and Tennis magazine to launch the collection just before the US Open. James will greet fans and sign autographs in the Thomas Reynolds concept shop at Lord & Taylor on Fifth Avenue on Thursday, August 27th at 6pm. The VIP launch event to unveil the line will feature DJ Sky Nellor and be held the same evening on the 11th floor Terrace at Lord & Taylor.

The Thomas Reynolds launch includes a fully integrated marketing and public relations program. The multi-channel marketing program integrates print and online advertising, an online contest, retail promotions, athlete appearances and Thomas Reynolds concept shops.

Thomas Reynolds will be carried at Lord & Taylor, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Paragon Sports, Mason’s Tennis Mart, Tenniswarehouse.com, fila.com and select specialty retailers around the country.

The full range of the Thomas Reynolds collection, including a full tennis, fitness, lifestyle, golf and footwear line, will launch throughout the Spring Summer 2010 season.

Los Angeles, CA (July 30, 2009) FIDM alumna and “Project Runway” winner Leanne Marshall will be honored with a celebration of her winning collection as part of the FIDM Museum & Galleries annual exhibition entitled “The Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design.”

A fashion design graduate of FIDM/ Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Marshall made a name for herself as the young, talented designer behind the trendy West Coast label, Leanimal. In 2008, she was named one of sixteen contestants on the highly anticipated fifth “Project Runway” season. Emerging as a strong contender on the Emmy-nominated reality series, Marshall ultimately emerged victorious over finalists Kenley Collins and Korto Momolu, earning the show’s $100,000 grand prize and the opportunity to sell her line on Bluefly.com.

Culled from Marshall’s final show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City, the winning collection of “Project Runway” fashion is at the cornerstone of a broader show brought together through a collaborative effort between the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the FIDM Museum & Galleries. Marking the accomplishments of the past year, the exhibition includes more than 100 costumes and sketches selected from a variety of television genres, including episodic series, mini-series, and selected reality shows.

Designers include Jo Katsaras for “No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency,” Eric Daman for “Gossip Girl,” Luke Reichle for “Without a Trace,” Salvador Perez Jr. for “Castle,” and Randall Christensen, Steven Norman Lee, and Daniella Gschwendtner for “Dancing with the Stars.” Other television programs include the likes of “Ghost Whisperer,” “The L Word,” “The Tudors,” and “John Adams.”

This exciting show will open Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 and run until Sunday, September 6th, 2009.

The Museum at FIT presents Fashion & Politics, a new exhibition in its Fashion and Textile History Gallery. Fashion & Politics is an exploration of more than 200 years of politics as expressed through fashion.

The Museum at FIT presents Fashion & Politics, a new exhibition in its Fashion and Textile History Gallery. Fashion & Politics is an exploration of more than 200 years of politics as expressed through fashion. In this setting, the term “politics” not only refers to the maneuverings of government, but also encompasses cultural change, sexual codes, and social progress. Fashion & Politics displays how, throughout history, fashion has been a medium for conveying political ideologies and related social values by addressing such important themes as nationalism, feminism, and ethnic identity, as well as significant events and subcultural movements. Featuring more than 100 costumes, textiles, and accessories displayed in chronological order, Fashion & Politics reveals the rich history of politics in fashion.

The exhibition’s introductory gallery explores the theme of American nationalism. Featured are a woman’s costume, circa 1889, printed with an American flag motif, as well as Catherine Malandrino’s iconic Flag Dress, worn by numerous celebrities and socialites to express patriotism after 9/11, and again in response to the historic 2008 presidential campaign. Also featured is an ”IKE” dress from the 1956 Eisenhower campaign, a ”NIXON” paper dress, and memorabilia from the 2008 presidential campaigns.

Following the introduction, the exhibition presents an overview of fashion and related textiles and accessories that illustrates the interrelationship of fashion and politics from the nineteenth century to the present day. This begins with a look at the role of fashion in nineteenth century cultural and class politics. For example, a neoclassically inspired gown, circa 1805, conveys democratic ideals through the medium of fashion. Also on view are examples of late nineteenth century women’s sportswear, including a tailored bicycling ensemble and gym suit, which were inspired by earlier styles of reform dress such as the divided skirt and the bloomer.

Late nineteenth and early twentieth century ”Aesthetic” dress–a form of early countercultural style–rejected the rigid silhouette of Victorian fashions in favor of looser-fitting garments. Examples of this are shown in designs by Liberty of London and Mariano Fortuny that emphasize health, comfort, and a graceful appearance.

Also featured is a series of textiles that chronicle the social and political developments of the first half of the twentieth century. These include a Communist propaganda textile from 1920s Russia, an anti-Prohibition scarf repeating the words ”Repeal the 18th Amendment,” and a depression-era textile entitled Harvest (from one of FDR’s New Deal programs).

The chronology continues with visual representations of patriotism during World War II, which are represented by objects that range from a pair of red, white, and blue leather heels adorned with metal stars to a triumphant ”Victory” scarf. A denim “Rosie the Riveter” factory jumpsuit is on view as an example of the functional work wear women adopted while contributing to the war effort. In contrast, women who enlisted in the
W.A.V.E.S. division of the U.S. Navy were outfitted in uniforms by American couturier Mainbocher, a designer of the highest caliber.

The post-World War II baby-boom generation came of age in the 1960s–a decade of youth, technology, space exploration, and burgeoning sexual revolution. Capturing the mood of the era were designers such as Pierre Cardin, Andre Courrèges, and Rudi Gernreich, all of whom have garments on display. Gernreich once stated that his designs were both fashion and social commentary–none more so than his famous topless bathing suit, the “Monokini,” which is featured in the exhibition.

As it moves into the second half of the twentieth century, the exhibition shows that the use of political and social imagery was becoming increasingly explicit in fashion. On display are examples from Vivienne Tam’s controversial 1995 “Mao” Collection, which used a highly charged propagandist image–the face of Communist leader Mao Zedong–to comment on Chinese political history. Set against a camouflage background, Stephen Sprouse’s subversive homage to the Declaration of Independence alludes to the complex relationship between government and the military.

Present-day fashions reflect a renewed interest in politics, sparked in large part by the election of Barack Obama, the United States’ first African-American president. Just as Obama’s campaign centered on such socially charged words as “progress” and “change,” many contemporary designers are currently using fashion as a medium for raising political and social awareness and promoting environmentalism. The Danish fashion brand NOIR works with sustainable materials and fair-trade practices to blend luxury and sophistication with social responsibility. On another note, dresses from Alexandre Herchcovitch’s spring 2009 collection entitled “Army of Love” were inspired by “politically troubled, foreign-ruled, war-torn countries.” These examples are among the many ways that fashion continues to powerfully articulate our concerns about social issues such as war, global warming, and economic uncertainty.

Fashion and Politics is organized by Melissa Marra and Jennifer Farley, along with Colleen Hill, Harumi Hotta, and Lynn Weidner. The exhibition will be on view from July 7, 2009 through November 7, 2009 in the Fashion and Textile History Gallery at The Museum at FIT.

The Fashion and Textile History Gallery presents biannual exhibitions examining aspects of the past 250 years of fashion. Exhibitions are curated exclusively from The Museum at FIT’s extensive collection. Support for this exhibition has been provided by the Couture Council.