Jillian Lewis of 'Project Runway' Season Four Teams Up With Brother International...

Jillian Lewis of 'Project Runway' Season Four Teams Up With Brother
International Corporation
Designer Offers Tips for Fashionistas Looking to Create Their Own Style

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Brother International
Corporation recently announced a business relationship with Jillian Lewis, one
of three finalists of the hit fashion reality television show, "Project
Runway" Season Four. Lewis was recently a keynote speaker at Brother's annual
Back to Business event, where she explained how her own Brother sewing machine
helped in developing her dream to become a fashion designer.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080827/LAW519)
Lewis began sewing at the age of 16, on a Brother Pacesetter 2300. This
Pacesetter model carried Lewis through her collegiate career at Parsons School
of Design, and was used to create her first complete line shown on "Project
Runway" Season Four. Lewis notes the Pacesetter 2300 "will go down in
history" as a huge asset to her for creating clothes to wear to school,
developing her senior thesis and preparing for "Project Runway" Season Four.
"Brother has come a long way in 100 years, especially in the last 50. I
see my own story as parallel with Brother's," said Lewis. "I share the same
vision in the realization of my dreams as a designer and in the history I have
with my Brother machine," said Lewis.
In addition to aligning herself with Brother, Lewis is launching her new
clothing line, which she calls "ultra-feminine, sexy, colorful and unique to
my vision." Inspiration for the line came from many avenues, including
graffiti. Lewis comments that her designs transform an irrelevant art form,
making her collection abstract, sophisticated and chic.
"Jillian Lewis has such a great brand heritage with Brother," said Dean F.
Shulman, a senior vice president of Brother International Corporation, and
head of the company's home appliance division. "It speaks volumes that she
created such intricate and revered designs using a Brother machine and we feel
proud to have her as part of the Brother family."
For those who want to make their own fashions, Brother has recently
introduced the C-Combo series, a line of affordable, feature-packed
combination embroidery and sewing machines. The line features the Innov-is
900D and SE-350, and starts at around $399*. Both models boast advanced
sewing and embroidery features in a compact, lightweight design, making them
perfect for aspiring designers looking to discover their potential. For those
looking to create their own individual styles, Lewis offers the following
tips:
-- Designs should express individuality, personal style, comfort and point
of view. As long as the intended wearer feels great in the design, it will
look great too.
-- Follow fashion week coverage for Spring 2009 designer collections
online and in magazines for inspiration. Never copy other designs, but learn
from what trendsetters are doing and identifying as the next hot styles.
Also, take a trip to a designer store and study the construction techniques
used. Learn from what already exists, improve it, take it further, and think
about how designs can enhance the lifestyle of their wearers.
-- There is a lovely artsy trend in fashion right now. Experiment with an
airbrush, creating a Georgia O'Keeffe-inspired watercolor wash on clothing and
add layers of embroidery with built-in designs from Brother's Innov-is 900D or
SE-350 for new textures. These touches can transform a tired wardrobe, but be
sure not to overdo it!
-- Toward the end of a season, before the weather changes, it feels time
for a new wardrobe. Stretch the use of seasonal clothing with manipulations.
I look at everything as raw material. I went through a phase where all of my
fiance's shirts were taken apart and made new and unrecognizable for me into
tunics and things! I have purchased head bands from the convenience store and
embellished them with feathers.
-- One major lesson I took away from my experience on "Project Runway" is
that when it comes to creativity and design innovation, the sky is the limit.
Any idea, no matter how over the top, is achievable. As long as the ideas are
there, so is the opportunity to create. So do it!
For more information on Brother's extensive line of home sewing and
embroidery products, visit http://www.brother.com. To learn more about
Jillian Lewis' new line, set to hit stores in August, visit
http://www.jillianlewisny.com.
About Brother International Corporation
Brother International Corporation has earned its reputation as a leading
supplier of innovative products for the home sewing enthusiast. Through a
growing network of sewing machine dealers and retail outlets nationwide,
Brother offers a full line of home sewing machines, from basic to
top-of-the-line sewing and embroidery machines. The company is recognized for
its high-quality, state-of-the-art machines and accessories, offering ease of
use and flexibility at affordable prices.
Brother is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brother Industries Ltd. With
worldwide sales approaching $5 billion, this global manufacturer was started
almost 100 years ago by sewing fanatics.
Brother offers a diversified product line that includes fax machines,
Multi-Function Center(R) machines, P-touch(R) Labeling Systems and both color
and black & white laser printers for home, office and industry.
Bridgewater, New Jersey is the corporate headquarters for Brother in the
Americas, from Canada to South America. It has fully integrated sales,
marketing services, manufacturing, research and development capabilities
located in the U.S. In addition to its headquarters in Bridgewater, New
Jersey, Brother has facilities in California, Illinois, Massachusetts and
Tennessee, as well as subsidiaries in Ohio, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Argentina
and Mexico. For more information, you can visit the web site at
http://www.brother.com.
*Prices set by dealers may vary.
SOURCE Brother International Corporation

Audrey Sahl, +1-212-219-0321, sahl@formulapr.com, or Carolyn Woodside,
+1-516-935-4944, carolynw@egcgroup.com, both for Brother International
Corporation