Twenty rising juniors to create bras during summer break

Students at the celebrated Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles will contribute decorated bras from the school's design competition for Chesapeake Regional Medical Center's 3rd annual October Bra-ha-ha™ (www.brahaha.org).

Twenty rising juniors will create bras during their summer break. The design entries will then be reviewed by a select panel of judges at the school, to include design instructors and guest judge, Ugo Campello, vice president and creative director at luxury lingerie design house, COSABELLA, http://cosabella.com/.

The first place winner, along with a selection of the other entries from the competition, will be sent to Hampton Roads to be part of Bra-ha-ha™ in October. The Otis students' work will bring added creative spirit to the Hampton Roads' fundraising event, which already draws some 150 bra entries each year.

"We are extremely appreciative that these very talented young people are taking time out during their summer break to contribute their creative energy to further the spirit of Bra-ha-ha™," said spokesperson Angela McPike, vice president of Marketing, Planning and Business Development at  Chesapeake Regional Medical Center (www.chesapeakeregional.com).

"Having young adults involved in our event truly helps spread the message about how important breast health is for everyone and the power of people coming together to further a good cause."

Chesapeake Regional's Bra-ha-ha™ (www.brahaha.org) brings together people of all walks of life in a competition to decorate bras in some of the most creative, hilarious and eye-catching ways imaginable in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month each October. Each bra tells a story of hope, perseverance and support.  All of the designs are unveiled at an annual gala, before being put on public exhibit at MacArthur Center Mall in downtown Norfolk.  

This year's gala event and celebrity silent auction is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 3. The exhibit will follow Oct. 4- 16. Some 500 people attended last year's opening gala, and more than 10,000 visitors toured the exhibit at MacArthur Center Mall, according to McPike.  

McPike, credits Bra-ha-ha's™ own "guardian angel," in the form of COSABELLA, for making the connection with Otis.

"Last year we were so fortunate to have COSABELLA come forward to design and donate the 'Angel of Hope' bra for the premier offering at our silent auction," said McPike. "Since then, "COSABELLA has stepped up to make a long-term commitment to furthering the cause of Bra-ha-ha™ as organizers of the Hampton Roads event work to expand the brand into a national outreach effort to support all forms of breast health and alleviate the barriers preventing the early detection and treatment of breast cancer."

"COSABELLA's partnership with Otis College's annual senior fashion show has allowed us to open our eyes to the creativity and innovation of these incredible young designers," notes Guido Campello, vice president, Branding and Innovation, COSABELLA. "This new partnership with Bra-ha-ha™ will give us a new window into the emotion and storytelling these young designers bring through their work. To have the junior class of Otis College compete in this design event is significant in bringing prevention and awareness to a whole new generation."