Seth Aaron, 'Project Runway' Winner, Offers Peek at High-Fashion Collection Inspired by SolarWorld

Designer uses fashion to express appeal of 'our future solar power'

PORTLAND, Ore., Sept., 8 – In a solar spin on a fashion staple, television's 'Project Runway' Season 7 winner Seth Aaron Henderson today unveiled an angular, highly structured evocation of the little black dress. Seth Aaron's design provides a glimpse of a ground-breaking, high-fashion runway collection that will embody his interpretation of solar energy, technology and industry. The collection, featuring designs inspired by U.S. solar manufacturing pioneer SolarWorld, will debut at the world’s leading sustainable fashion event, Portland Fashion Week, running from Oct. 6 through 10.

In recent photography sessions in Portland, Seth Aaron directed modeling and photography of the all-black dress, paying tribute to SolarWorld's new, sleek, black high-performance solar panel. The outfit highlights the 'Solar Is the New Black' theme of this year's Portland Fashion Week, which will feature a runway composed of SolarWorld's black solar panels and the 'Seth Aaron SolarWorld Collection Presented by Portland Fashion Week.' Seth Aaron took inspiration from the Hillsboro, Ore., operations of SolarWorld, the largest and most experienced U.S. solar manufacturer.

Seth Aaron believes his designs are the first to go far beyond literal interpretations of solar power that have incorporated actual technology elements for show or use and artistically embrace what he called "our future solar power." By combining fashion with solar-technology design influences, Seth Aaron joins SolarWorld and Portland Fashion Week in making a statement that sustainability is fashionable.

"The first look really captures my first impression when we walked onto the floor of the SolarWorld factory," Seth Aaron said. "It's been interesting to see how one piece branches from the last. This will be a fun mix of fantasy and 'wearability', hardness and softness – pieces that take concept and costume and connect them with reality. It’s an artistic story about solar power and renewable energy. But, as it should be, it's a fashion story, a fashion collection."

The collection hits the runway on Oct. 9 at Portland Fashion Week, the nation’s first to offset its energy and water use with contributions of certificates for green, carbon-neutral energy as well as water savings. The eco-friendly production showcases the highest number of sustainable labels of any fashion week in the country, along with independent and fair-trade high-fashion designers.

"This exciting collaboration between a fashion designer and a world-class solar tech company reflects our region's values -- sustainability and creativity -- and showcases our economic competitive advantages," said Portland Mayor Sam Adams.

Aside from Seth Aaron, two other 'Project Runway' alumni, Jonathan Peters and Jay Sario, also will present designs Oct. 9 at the show. All three designers are staging their first collections since their TV appearances, including Seth Aaron’s triumph this past Spring.

For more information on the inspiration behind the collection visit www.solarworld-usa.com/black. Updates will be posted weekly starting September 17th.

About Portland Fashion Week (www.portlandfashionweek.net): On the runway since 2003, Portland Fashion Week is the second-longest running fashion week on the West Coast. In 2007, Portland Fashion Week became the first sustainable production of a fashion week in the world. It has been showcasing the collections of the upcoming season by the highest number of sustainable labels of any fashion week in the country, along with several independent and fair-trade high-fashion designers. Nationally and internationally known designers from North America, Europe and beyond present their exquisite collections in Portland Fashion Week. Portland Fashion Week is produced by PFW Productions LLC, a full-service events production and promotions company specializing in fashion. The Bonneville Environmental Foundation has provided BEF Water Restoration Certificates (TM) and Green-e Energy-certified BEF Renewable Energy Certificates generated from 100 percent clean, renewable energy for the energy and water used to produce Portland Fashion Week.

Media Contact:

Chris Cone
Executive producer
Portland Fashion Week
PFW Productions LLC
1255 N.W. Ninth Ave., No. 211
Portland OR 97209
Mobile: 503 830-4107
tito(at)portlandfashionweek.net

About SolarWorld (www.solarworld-usa.com)

SolarWorld (ISIN: DE0005108401) is a worldwide leader in offering brand-name, high-quality, crystalline silicon solar-power technology. The company’s strength is its fully integrated solar production. From silicon as the raw material through wafers, cells and panels all the way to turn-key solar systems of all sizes, the group combines all stages of the solar value chain. The central business activity is selling high-quality panels into the installation and distribution trades and wafers to the international solar cell industry. Group headquarters are located in Bonn, Germany, with sales sites in Singapore, South Africa, Spain, France as well as in the U.S. state of California. The group’s largest production facilities operate in Freiberg, Germany, and Hillsboro in the U.S. state of Oregon. Sustainability is the basis of the group strategy. Under the name Solar2World, the group supports community aid projects using off-grid solar-power solutions in developing countries, exemplifying sustainable economic development. Worldwide, SolarWorld employs about 3,300 people. SolarWorld AG has been quoted on the stock exchange since 1999 and today is listed on, among others, the TecDAX and ÖkoDAX as well as in the sustainability index NAI.

Media Contact:

Devon Cichoski
Media relations manager
SolarWorld Americas
4650 Adohr Lane
Camarillo, CA 93012
Mobile: 805-377-2905
Office: 805-388-6388
devon.cichoski(at)solarworld-usa.com