School of Fashion Announces 2009 Honorary Doctorate Recipients
 The
School of Fashion will honor Martine and Prosper
Assouline, founders of Assouline Publishing, and fashion illustrator David Downton, at the annual
Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 23, 2009. Each honoree will receive
a Doctorate of Humane Letters for their contributions to the world of art and design from Academy
President Dr. Elisa Stephens.
"Each year we select honorees who have made an outstanding contribution to the fashion industry
that students can learn from," said Dr. Stephens. "We are delighted to honor two of the most
influential leaders in the publishing world and one of the most highly respected fashion
illustrators at the event."
 Guests will meet students during a Q&A panel discussion and at the static
exhibition before the fashion show where graduates present their portfolios. Students have landed
internships with some of the world's top designers as a result of their portfolio review.
While in San Francisco, Downton will visit drawing studios to work with fashion illustration
students. The Assoulines will select two interns from the fashion merchandising and fashion
journalism programs. One will work in the Paris office and the other in the New York office.
Martine and Prosper Assouline are the co-founders of Assouline Publishing, the foremost
publisher in the world on
 fashion and style. For the past ten years, Assouline Publishing has created lavish,
illustrated books dedicated to fashion, photography, art and design. Renowned for their highly
original graphic concepts, Assouline books are works of art that capture culture and bring it to
life. The spirit and savoir-faire of these works have contributed to the creation of a unique,
eclectic, chic and elegant brand that is immediately identifiable. Today, Assouline publications
are found around the globe.
Assouline has freestanding boutiques in Paris (St Germain des Prés) and New York (Hotel Plaza).
In-store boutiques can be found in Miami, Mexico, Dubai and Doha. Locations in Milan, Los Angeles,
Las Vegas, Toronto and San Francisco are coming soon.
David Downton is a world-renowned fashion illustrator known for his portraits of model Erin
O'Connor and burlesque
performer Dita Von Teese. Downton is also the founder and publisher of Pourquoi Pas? A Journal of
Fashion Illustration. His recent work was included in Victoria and Albert Museum exhibitions and
their 150th Anniversary album; on the cover of 100 Years of Fashion Illustration by Cally Blackman;
at stores including Browns, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Marks & Spencer, Saks Fifth Avenue,
Selfridges, Tiffany & Co. and Topshop; in magazines such as Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Harpers
& Queen, L'Officiel, Tatler and Vogue; publicity material for the British Academy Film Awards;
and costume drawings of Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth I for Universal
Pictures.
Past School of Fashion honorees include Rosita and Tai Missoni (1999), Oscar de la Renta (2000),
Rose Marie Bravo (2001), Zandra Rhodes CBE and Koos van den Akker (2002), Josie Natori and Fern
Mallis (2003), Joan Kaner and Jeremy Scott (2004), Azzedine Alaïa and Carla Sozzani (2005),
Alexander McQueen, Christophe Girard, Robert Mettler and Wilkes Bashford (2006), Dame Vivienne
Westwood DBE, Loulou de la Falaise, Robin Givhan and Zac Posen (2007), Ralph Rucci and James
Galanos (2008).
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