Portland Fashion Week, SolarWorld join in green fashion showcase
PORTLAND, Ore., June 29, 2010 – Models in the 2010 Portland Fashion Week in October will walk a runway composed of SolarWorld's chic, new, black high-performance solar panels, spotlighting sustainable development of two of the world's biggest industries – fashion and energy.
Portland Fashion Week, the nation's leading showcase of sustainable fashion designs and practices, will feature the solar runway in launching spring-summer 2011 collections of internationally known designers during its seventh annual event from Oct. 6 to 10, 2010, in Portland.
As an event sponsor, SolarWorld will celebrate production of the black monocrystalline photovoltaic module and completion of its module-assembly factory in nearby Hillsboro, Ore. At the U.S. headquarters site, the company is expanding all production phases: crystal growing, wafer cutting, cell conversion and module assembly.
"For the largest and most experienced U.S. solar manufacturer to join forces with Portland Fashion Week is a clear statement that sustainability is fashionable," said Prasenjit Tito Chowdhury, executive producer of Portland Fashion Week. "Sustainable fashion is a lifestyle choice, as is renewable energy."
"We share Portland Fashion Week's commitment to a sustainable lifestyle," said Kevin Kilkelly, president of SolarWorld California, SolarWorld U.S. sales and marketing arm. "We can continue to rely on resources and practices that can’t be sustained, or we can make better decisions. We invite Americans to do better – in style."
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.
Prasenjit Tito Chowdhury
Executive producer
Portland Fashion Week.
PFW Productions LLC.
1255 N.W. Ninth Ave., No. 211
Portland OR 97209
Mobile: +1 503 756-1412
tito(at)portlandfashionweek.net
About SolarWorld (www.solarworld-usa.com)
SolarWorld (ISIN: DE0005108401) is a worldwide leader in offering brand-name, high quality, crystalline solar-power technology. Its strength is its fully integrated solar production. From silicon as the raw material through wafers, cells and modules 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 quality modules into the installation and distribution trades and crystalline wafers to the international solar cell industry. Group headquarters are located in Bonn, Germany. 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 care projects using off-grid solar-power solutions in developing countries, exemplifying sustainable economic development. Worldwide, SolarWorld employs more than 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: 805-388-6388
Office: 805-377-2905
devon.cichoski(at)solarworld-usa.com