Mar 25, 2019
Ashley Stewart®, the leading lifestyle and social commerce brand, has launched the ME BY EMME® 2019 capsule dress collection in partnership with iconic supermodel Emme ’85.
The yearlong partnership consists of 12 new trend-forward dress styles that are perfect for the modern-day woman. Created by Emme and KBL Group International, the capsule spotlights two winning dresses from Fashion Without Limits (FWL) EMME Award™ winners at Syracuse University: Courtney Capazzi ’18 (2017 winner) and Kerry Phelan ’19 (2018 winner).
EMME '85 IN THE DRESS BY KERRY PHELAN '19
The College of Visual and Performing Arts’ School of Design and Emme co-founded FWL in an effort to teach young fashion designers over the course of their four-year college education about inclusive fashion design as a foundational solution for approximately 100 million women above a size 12 in the U.S. who cannot find trend-forward, well-fitting and fashionable clothing options.
“Going into our sixth year, we’ve helped shift the way young fashion designers conceptually think about the women and men they design for, by opening their aperture to size,” says Emme. “I am delighted that Ashley Stewart (now for a second year) wanted to include the FWL winning dress(es) along with my ME by EMME® dress collection. It’s a wonderful opportunity to applaud inclusive fashion within design schools that celebrate every woman’s body.”
Phelan, a senior majoring in fashion design with a minor in retail management, designed the 2018 lace peplum-winning dress in celebration of the female body and her powerful curves.
“I’m driven to find ways to use fashion as a vehicle to express my voice,” says Phelan. “This [FWL] program has given me the chance to put more meaning into my work and strive to make a change.”
Additionally, 2017 FWL EMME Award™ winner Courtney Capazzi’s sell-out, salmon-colored dress earned her another season online at Ashley Stewart in two color ways along with the ME by EMME® collection. ME by EMME® dresses are available for purchase online at AshleyStewart.com and range in price from $59.50 – $69.50.
For more information about Emme and FWL, visit and follow @Supermodelemme on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and at www.emmestyle.com/fashionwithoutlimits. For more fabulous ME by EMME® upcoming dress designs, visit Ashley Stewart. Follow @ByAshleyStewart and @ByAshleyTV on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
ABOUT ASHLEY STEWART
Ashley Stewart is a global fashion and lifestyle brand that has propelled itself to be on the vanguard of social commerce and purpose-driven business. Since its founding in 1991 in Brooklyn, New York, Ashley Stewart has always stood for uncompromising style, fashion confidence and empowerment for the woman who flaunts her curves. Today, Ashley Stewart offers the hottest looks with 88 stores across the United States, a leading and global e-commerce presence at AshleyStewart.com, a powerful social media presence @byashleystewart and a growing multimedia and events arm at AshleyTV. Every year, through the Finding Ashley Stewart Tour, Ashley Stewart traverses the country looking to recognize women who embody the ideals of the Ashley Stewart women: kindness, resilience, confidence and community leadership. Through #ASGives, Ashley Stewart engages in programs such as the #AshleyCollegeTour to make long-term investments into the communities that have supported the brand for close to 30 years.
ABOUT FASHION WITHOUT LIMITS (FWL)
FWL is a global initiative where young designers in fashion design schools are taught an inclusive fashion education (pattern making, draping, illustration, design and grading) for women size 0-24 and above.
FWL’s mission is to strengthen the impact of fashion design in women's lives and the global economy.
Categories: School of Design, Fashion Design, Your First Year, Alumni