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New York, NY, March 2004 --- RadiciSpandex Corporation is proud to announce that iconic American designer Nicole Miller will serve as the Designer Judge and Honoree for the 2004 edition of the “Stretch to the Future” Design Scholarship Competition at Manhattan’s High School of Fashion Industries (HSFI).

Ms. Miller will lead a judging panel of fashion industry experts including reporters and fashion editors from consumer and trade publications, textile company executives and HSFI faculty members. The judging will determine the winners of seven scholarships from RadiciSpandex Corp. Scholarships are awarded in the areas of women’s wear, eveningwear, children’s wear, men’s wear, swimwear, lingerie, fantasy apparel and one Grand Prize selected from all categories. Ms. Miller will receive the “Stretch to the Future” Award at HSFI’s year-end fashion show on May 19, when the winning designs will be unveiled. The show is by invitation only for members of the apparel industry.  

"We are truly honored to have Nicole Miller join the annual ‘Stretch to the Future’ contest,” said Bill Girrier, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at RadiciSpandex Corp. “Nicole's success through versatility and innovation are traits that we at RadiciSpandex try to emulate in our own way. For twenty years, Nicole Miller has shown the fashion world how innovation, agility, sensitivity toward the consumer market and thinking outside of the traditional way of doing business has enriched everything toward which she has applied her many talents. This is the spirit we look for in the ‘Stretch to the Future’ contest and this makes Nicole Miller a perfect Honoree Judge." 

“I’m very happy to accept this wonderful opportunity to inspire the next generation of design talent,” said Nicole Miller. “I believe very strongly in supporting the future of the fashion industry and the fact that the High School of Fashion Industries is a unique part of New York City makes this honor even more special.”  

Created in 1999, the “Stretch to the Future” Design Scholarship Competition is an integral part of HSFI’s annual Fashion Show that fosters the creative development of design students while educating them about the technical aspects of garment construction using fashion fabrics containing a highly technical fiber such as elastane manufactured by RadiciSpandex Corp. Every year, RadiciSpandex Corp. invites a well-known designer to head up the judging panel of apparel industry experts. Previous recipients of this honor include Betsey Johnson, Dana Buchman and John Varvatos.

Currently celebrating her 20th anniversary as a principal of America’s design elite, Nicole Miller has a far-reaching following thanks to elegant designs that appeal to an array of customers. Established actresses Kim Cattrall and Jennifer Aniston and up-and-comers like Hillary Duff and Mena Suvari all wear and love Nicole Miller designs. With degrees from the Rhode Island School of Design and the prestigious Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris, Nicole Miller has an enviable background in both art and couture. Her clothing is marked by the duality of her experience; beautifully cut garments are highlighted by exquisitely drawn prints.

Located in the heart of Manhattan’s Chelsea district, HSFI was founded in 1926 and is the only school in the eastern United States that fully integrates a high school degree program with a fashion industry curriculum. The student body is comprised of residents from all New York City boroughs. 

RadiciSpandex Corp. is a U.S. subsidiary of The Radici Group, a multi-billion dollar entity based in Italy that employs 9,000 employees in 68 factories worldwide. The company is a multi-national, multi-ethnic industry player whose integrated business activities range from synthetic fibers to chemicals, plastics, packaging and textile machinery. Synthetic fibers (nylon, polyester, polypropylene and spandex/elastane) are the core activity of the group.