Mercedes-Benz Spotlights Design and Craftsmanship at Spring 2009 Fashion Week

- Ralph Rucci Selected As Mercedes-Benz Presents designer

NEW YORK, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercedes-Benz is returning to the runway
as the title sponsor of Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week by driving the
excitement at the shows, backstage, and in the Bryant Park lobby.
Mercedes-Benz celebrates the best in fashion and luxury this season with the
Spring 2009 Mercedes-Benz Presents designer, Ralph Rucci, and the chic
Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge which will cater to VIPs and celebrities.
Mercedes-Benz will also welcome guests at Fashion Week to experience the
ultimate in luxury automotives with the 2009 CLS63 AMG and limited edition
Saks Fifth Avenue KEY TO THE CURE S550 sedan. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is
from September 5th to the 12th at Bryant Park and showcases industry leading
fashion designers including Chado Ralph Rucci, BCBG, Badgley Mischka, Diane
von Furstenberg, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Zac Posen.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080905/NYF046 )
Mercedes-Benz Presents Designer
Mercedes-Benz has handpicked couture designer Ralph Rucci as this year's
Mercedes-Benz Presents Designer for his unwavering commitment to quality and
his principal focus on luxury. Since 1981, Rucci has shown a strong affinity
for artistic couture that is formal in its framework, yet multi-layered in its
aesthetic, and rather than participate in current trends, Rucci establishes
trends of his own. In 1994, he renamed his company Chado Ralph Rucci, after
the Japanese tea ceremony. He chose the name in order to mirror the reverence,
respect and integrity he holds for his profession, and because those were the
qualities he wanted to explore through his clothes. "We are honored to
partner with Chado Ralph Rucci on his Spring 2009 runway show," said Lisa
Holladay, Manager, Brand Experience Marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA. "Ralph's
relentless attention to design, construction and detail matches our commitment
in these important fields with our own products. We eagerly anticipate his
show." Rucci's 2009 Collection will debut September 12th at 6:00pm at the
Tents at Bryant Park.
Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge
Backstage, Mercedes-Benz has partnered with interior designer, Laura
Kirar, to create this season's exclusive Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge. Kirar's
design incorporates the season's jewel tones in a dark berry palette and her
signature selection of sophisticated materials and furniture such as
upholstered walls and Murano glass chandeliers. Kirar's design evokes a
philosophy that Mercedes-Benz shares; a focus on quality, detail and authentic
luxury. This season the lounge will host a series of chic, invite-only events
celebrating the best the week has to offer.
With election season in full bloom, Mercedes-Benz is bringing the "Vote
Fashion" to Fashion Week with a series of limited edition, politically
inspired pins. With slogans such as 'The Highway is My Runway' and 'NYC is
Fashion Country', these buttons will be the must-have accessory for
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Available exclusively from Mercedes-Benz,
participants are invited to choose their favorite design slogan at
votembfashionweek.com.
Mercedes-Benz Vehicle Displays
The lobby at Bryant Park Tents will showcase the high performance CLS63
AMG opposite a diamond white metallic S550 Sedan. Built for speed, the CLS63
AMG marries superior power and handling with sleek, sensuous exterior lines.
The 2009 CLS63 AMG features Alcantara interior roof liner, a carbon-fiber
dashboard and new, sleek front and grill design. Opposite the CLS,
Mercedes-Benz will preview the signature edition 2009 S550 which is this
year's Saks KEY TO THE CURE car. As elegant as it is powerful, the S550 Sedan
features exclusive Diamond White metallic exterior paint, Sahara Beige/Black
interior, and 20" AMG 5-spoke light-alloy wheels with high-performance tires.
A car for those who appreciate superior handling and power, the S550's
5.5-liter, 382-horsepower V-8 engine will rocket this sedan from 0-60 mph in
only 5.4 seconds. "The S550 offers auto enthusiasts not only what they've come
to expect from Mercedes-Benz -- progressive automotive design, award-winning
technical innovations and unparalleled performance -- but now, as part of Key
To The Cure, a unique opportunity to help make a difference in the fight
against cancer," said Steve Cannon, vice president of marketing for
Mercedes-Benz USA. "This is a cause that touches so many lives and we are
proud to partner with Saks Fifth Avenue and the Entertainment Industry
Foundation in this important campaign."
KEY TO THE CURE
This year marks the 10th Anniversary of Saks Fifth Avenue's KEY TO THE
CURE and as a national sponsor, Mercedes-Benz USA expects to contribute $1
million through the sale of 1,000 signature edition S-Class vehicles. Over
the past six years Mercedes-Benz USA has raised over $6 million for KEY TO THE
CURE. Throughout the years, a number of celebrity ambassadors including
Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Hilary Swank, Renee Zellweger and this year's
ambassador, Gwyneth Paltrow have supported the campaign. As part of the 10th
anniversary, Mercedes-Benz is supporting Lori Raimondo's journey across the
country to raise awareness for breast cancer research in honor of her mother
who died from the disease. Outfitted in a signature edition S550, Lori is
driving from San Francisco to New York City and meeting with cancer survivors
along the way. In the Tents, Mercedes-Benz will feature a dynamic display
that highlights Lori's journey next to the S550 as well as the Karl
Lagerfeld-designed 2008 KEY TO THE CURE t-shirt that will be on sale at Saks.
The Funds raised from Saks Fifth Avenue's KEY TO THE CURE will benefit more
than 50 charitable programs nationwide dedicated to finding new detection
methods, treatments and cures for women's cancers. More information is
available at www.kttcroadtrip.com.
Mercedes-Benz Newsgroup
Online, Mercedes-Benz is providing press information and complimentary,
high-resolution photography from all three Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week venues
in the United States (including New York, Los Angeles at Smashbox Studios, and
Miami/Swim). During the New York Collections the Newsgroup will update daily,
offering photography from both the runway and celebrity-packed front row shot
by the incomparable Dan Lecca. Once the shows have concluded, images from
each season will remain available at the Newsgroup's archive. For more
information about Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week and for a schedule of
shows, events, and complimentary photography, accredited journalists may visit
and register at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Newsgroup located at
www.newsgroup.mbusa.com.
ABOUT MERCEDES-BENZ
Mercedes-Benz USA, headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible
for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products
in the United States. Beginning in 2007, Mercedes-Benz USA became the title
sponsor of IMG's New York, Los Angeles and Miami Fashion Weeks, signifying the
first time all three properties have been united under a single sponsor.
Mercedes-Benz is also engaged in international markets in Fashion Week title
sponsorships with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin as the most recent
example. In 2007, MBUSA achieved an all-time sales record of 253,433 new
vehicles, setting the highest sales volume ever in its history and achieving
14 consecutive years of sales growth. More information on MBUSA and its
products can be found on the Internet at www.mbusa.com and www.maybachusa.com.
ABOUT RALPH RUCCI
Ralph Rucci is one of the most refined and exacting couturiers working
today. With a commitment to quality that is unwavering, Rucci is creating a
grand visual epic, an evolving artistic narrative that reaches beyond the
boundaries of contemporary fashion. Chado Ralph Rucci incorporates
reverence, respect and integrity, combining haute couture elements and
architectural and art influences.
ABOUT LAURA KIRAR
With both feet firmly in the 21st century, Laura Kirar looks at
contemporary art and culture to ensure that her designs, while timeless, are
also completely contemporary. Her designs look both forward and back, taking
inspiration from past eras of incredible craftsmanship and luxury where
attention to detail and the thoughtful combination of materials combined to
create furniture and environments of extraordinary elegance. Key historical
influences include traditional Japanese art and crafts and the early 20th
century Weiner Werkstatte in Vienna.
SOURCE Mercedes-Benz USA

Gregory O'Shea of Mercedes-Benz USA, +1-201-573-2238, Toll-free,
+888-MBNEWS-1; or Kim Alvez of Full Picture, +1-212-995-2095