Lord & Taylor Supports Emerging Designers

Lord and Taylor, an underwriter of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, confirms today that it is contributing $20,000 each for the runway shows of three emerging designers: Doo.Ri, who won the Fund's Swaroski Perry Ellis Award for Womenswear last year, and the two runner-ups, Thakoon and Rodarte. All three will show their Spring 2008 collections during New York's Fashion Week. "This is a return to Lord and Taylor's long standing tradition of nurturing young American design talent," said Jane Elfers, President and Chief Executive Officer. Lord & Taylor has been creating a buzz in the industry by demonstrating its commitment to upgrading merchandise assortments, in-store services and amenities, brand packaging and the total overhaul of its media mix that includes a stunning Fall advertising campaign, the result of the dramatic repositioning of the 181-year-old brand spearheaded by Elfers.

A Parsons the New School for Design graduate, Doori Chung debuted her own collection for Fall 2003 after seven years as head designer for Geoffrey Beene. Her sensual designs project a modern casual sophistication with the addition of subtle architectural details. Known for his timeless but innovative design of delicate deconstruction, Thakoon Panichgul also graduated from Parsons, showing his first collection in 2004. Sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy adopted their mother's maiden name for their label and showed their first collection to fashion editors and retailers in 2005. Without formal fashion training, their intricate romantic dresses bring to mind the couture. Guests attending these designers' shows will receive the new Lord and Taylor shopping bags.

The quintessential American store and the oldest in the country, Lord and Taylor is approaching two centuries of distinction in the fashion and retail industries. It was the legendary Dorothy Shaver, the first woman President of an American department store, who, in the thirties and forties, had the vision to support rising stars of American design such as Claire McCardell, Bonnie Cashin, Luis Estevez and Vera Maxwell, among many others, all of whom were first showcased in Lord & Taylor's boutiques and Fifth Avenue windows.

About Lord & Taylor

Lord & Taylor is an upscale specialty department store with 47 stores in nine states and the District of Columbia. Lord & Taylor has built a reputation for attentive customer service and high-quality merchandise focused on apparel and accessories. Founded in 1826, Lord & Taylor's is America's oldest department store and one of America's premier retailers.