Tonight, one-of-a-kind fashions inspired by General Motors vehicles and created by students from the International Academy of Design and Technology (the Academy) will be on display and paraded down the runway at the Academy’s annual fashion show, Imagine 2008.

Sponsored by GM for the sixth consecutive year, Imagine 2008 celebrates the creativity of the Academy’s talented fashion and design students, including five winners of the 2008 GM Student Design Competition who designed a unique collection of garments inspired by GM’s hottest new products.

“Many of the same principals and trends that influence fashion design are seen in automotive design,” said Kathleen Embry, Associate Director of Education for the Academy. “The opportunity to collaborate with General Motors and explore design from a different perspective has been invaluable to our students.”

The focus vehicles for this year’s competition include: the all-new, midsize sedan and 2008 North American Car of the Year, Chevrolet Malibu; the all-new European-style compact car, Saturn Astra; the all-new, rear-wheel-drive performance sedan, Pontiac G8; the special edition turbocharged, cross-wheel-drive performance car, Saab Turbo X; and the rugged, open-air, entry-level-size concept car debuted at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, HUMMER HX Concept.

David G. Lyon, director of interior at General Motors and Chicago native, will attend this year’s show to present each student winner with a $500 check award from GM and help kick-off the event.

“The GM Student Design Competition is a great opportunity for us, and I was impressed with the creative fashion interpretations of some of our newest vehicle designs,” said Lyon.

Adding a new element to this year’s design competition, GM also provided each student winner with a video camera to document the progress of their garments – from initial concept through production. The videos appear on GMnext.com, a new site created in 2008 as a celebration of GM’s centennial. The website also includes a series of web-based activities aimed at engaging a new generation with behind-the-scenes stories and insights into the people of GM and the future of transportation.