Samsung Mobile and Internationally Recognized Designer Alexander Wang Reveal Industry's First Crowd-Sourced Bag to Benefit Art Start Charity

NEW YORK, Aug. 21, 2013 / 3BL Media/ PRNewswire/ -- Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, and New York-based designer Alexander Wang revealed the finished product following months of collaboration with some of the industry's most creative contributors. The limited-edition Alexander Wang Wallie gym sack is the first co-created bag inspired by crowd-sourced sketches and images created using the GALAXY Note II. The bag will go on sale this August in key markets around the world and online to raise funds for Art Start, an award-winning, nationally-recognized charity that uses the arts to nurture the creative talents of at-risk children and youth. 

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130821/NY67475-a)
(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130821/NY67475-b)

At the start of the year, Wang engaged a group of close friends, stylists, photographers, and others to create "doodles" -- an image, pattern, or a photo -- on their Samsung GALAXY Note II device. Through the active idea-capturing and immediate-sharing benefits, the celebrated New York designer then curated these sketches into one collectively-inspired final print for a unisex drawstring lambskin backpack.

"The abstract print really captures the energy of New York City," said Alexander Wang. "This collaboration is a great example of how technology and style can come together in an unexpected but really meaningful way. Art Start's mission of embracing creativity and art really inspires me and I'm so excited to support them with this project."

The GALAXY Note II is the ultimate smartphone for creative, expressive and unique individuals. Consumers can easily use the phone's simple expression tools to personalize messages with the S Pen, share calendars and contacts, write information while on a call, or share links to maps, YouTube videos and apps, making it ideal for those constantly on the move. Thanks to the GALAXY Note II's beautiful and large screen, they will also be able to see crystal clear images on a larger screen.

"This collaboration with Wang is so exciting because it really demonstrates how technology not only enables but empowers the creative process of fashion designers, artists, and creative individuals," said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. "At Samsung we aim to go beyond developing superior products and strive to create positive and inspirational experiences that allow consumers to simply be creative and imagine without limits."

Art Start is a New York City-based non-profit organization that uses the arts to save lives and to transform communities. Focusing on at-risk children and youth between the ages of 5 - 21, Art Start's creative arts workshops seek to nurture the creativity and talents of their youth participants, while instilling the confidence to pursue meaningful opportunities in life.

"Collaborating with Alexander Wang and Samsung has exposed the Art Start youth to a whole new level of the creative process," said Johanna De Los Santos, Executive Director at Art Start. "Our kids have been able to see how an idea or concept can become a tangible piece that will be sold across the world, and it's because of a concerted collaboration. Through this project, our kids learned that their creativity is indeed a tool for positive expression, and with the courage and confidence to share your ideas with the world, great things are possible." 

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in consumer electronics and the core components that go    into them. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 227,000 people across 75 countries with annual sales exceeding US$143 billion. Our goal is opening new possibilities for people everywhere. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

About Alexander Wang

San-Francisco born Wang launched his eponymous label with a full women's ready-to-wear line in Spring 2007. He was the recipient of the Vogue/CFDA Fashion Fund in 2008, and in 2009, was recognized by his peers by winning the Swarovski Womenswear Designer of the Year and the Swiss Textiles Award. In 2009, Wang also launched the T by Alexander Wang women's and Footwear line, followed by the Men's T by Alexander Wang a year later. The brand's ready-to-wear line for men was launched in 2011 and Wang was acknowledged by GQ as Best Menswear Designer of the Year and by the CFDA for Best Accessory Designer that same year.

In addition to its flagship store in SoHo, New York, there are over 15 Alexander Wang stores worldwide, with Men's and Women's categories offering ready-to-wear, T by Alexander Wang, Accessories (such as handbags, footwear and small leather goods) and the OBJECTS collection. His collections may be viewed at www.alexanderwang.com

About Art Start

Founded in 1991, Art Start is an award-winning, nationally recognized model for using the creative arts to transform young, at-risk lives. Through Art Start's daily creative arts workshops taking place inside some of the city's loneliest places, at-risk youth living in New York City collaborate with local teaching artists and educators who donate their time and guidance to nurture the youth's creativity and talents. To date, Art Start has given over 11,000 young people the chance to find their voices in a nurturing, supportive, and safe environment. Visit www.art-start.org to learn more about the organization.  

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