Allegri Fall 2012 | High School of Fashion Industries Partnership.

For the third installment of the Allegri challenge, High School of Fashion Industries (HSFI) design majors were challenged to create the ultimate Allegri rain pieces incorporating their own interpretations while remaining loyal to the DNA of the 40-year old Italian outerwear brand. The students were paired in developing one men’s piece and one women’s piece from start to finish – research, mood boards, sketches and drapings before Allegri produced samples of the most successful pieces.

These styles included a cropped motorcycle jacket with a removable, asymmetrical padded vest, a minimal lasercut Rain-Cashmere trench with invisible side pockets, a military-inspired coat with pleated silk detailing and gold buttons and an elegant fur-trimmed women’s coat.

This project provided the students of the High School of Fashion Industries the opportunity to not only get hands-on experience and see their designs for a major label come to fruition, but receive priceless guidance and feedback from industry leaders that they can carry with them always.

“It has been an honor to create and support opportunities for talented new designers through the Industry Partnership Program” says Allegri CEO Gian Maria Argentini. “We love the energy these students posses and seeing their initial sketches become finished products. It has been exciting to see the evolution of this project over several seasons. We began with signature Allegri rain accessories – umbrellas and rain boots, and last year the students designed handbags and weekenders which sat proudly in the windows of Saks Fifth Avenue”.

“This venture between Allegri and the HSFI students is the jewel in the crown of the ‘Industry Partnership Program” adds Robert Di Mauro, board member of HSFI and creator of the school’s Industry Partnership Program” This is a keen example of building a strong bridge between the industry and the school”.

Allegri brought together important personalities of the fashion industry as mentors to the students including supermodel Michelle Alves, whose early career experience as a fit model for Yves Saint Laurent lent insight to the students’ once in a lifetime experience. Saks Menswear Fashion Director, Eric Jennings, visited the students throughout the duration of the project and joined Alves and Allegri CEO Gian Maria Argentini on the judges panel that awarded college scholarship funding to the top four pairs of designers.

The hard work of the students paid off as the designs were stunning! I see a long future ahead for these junior designers. Kudos!

The Students