SUMMER RAYNE OAKES

April 28-30 2006. Summer Rayne had back-to-back-to-back discussions with high school students on sustainable design at Pace University, Cooper Hewitt Design Museum and the Project Emerge Program at F.I.T.

At Pace, Oakes unveiled ECOFASHION 101 to 300 students at the Students for a Sustainable Future Expo. The “I Heart Design” Symposium at the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum brought a number of students from across the country to talk to cross-industry designers about their work. On the 30th, Oakes visited F.I.T. again to give a three-part workshop to high school design students. The workshop focused on brand building exercises; the emergence of sustainable design; the global and personal importance of incorporating “sustainability” in design; and a special look into stories from various designers including a display of 18 international eco-friendly design lines. Video and images coming soon.

April 18, 2006. Summer Rayne visited the Fashion Institute of Technology Tuesday to sit with professors in order to discuss sustainability programs throughout the school.

Though not a graduate of F.I.T., Summer Rayne has been meeting with representatives of the school for over a year discussing ideas for the implementation of sustainability programs at the world-renowned design school centered in NYC. After discussing ideas with individuals on a regular basis, a group of professors have begun assembling a team to openly discuss and help shape such programs. “The growing interest among the next-generation of students for sustainable design programs is overflowing. F.I.T. is one of the top design schools in the world. Implementing a program on sustainability throughout F.I.T. just makes perfect sense.” Oakes continued to say that, “I envision F.I.T. to be the hub of innovative sustainable design in NYC, not only for students, but for industry professionals from around the world.”

April 19, 2006. Summer Rayne joins Riverkeeper for their special fund-raising event.

The Look: Off the heels of the Vanity Fair Party, Summer Rayne pays a visit to the Riverkeeper fundraising event at the Chelsea Piers in NYC. (Wearing a second-hand coat by Dolce & Gabanna) with self-made carved Sioux necklace.