Toronto Eco-Fashion Designer Jing Liu to be Youngest Sponsor of 2008 TIFF Tastemakers Celebrity Lounge

Jing Liu (27) will represent young entrepreneurs at this year’s Fourth Annual Tastemakers Celebrity Lounge event, part of the Toronto International Film Festival from September 6 – 12. The Owner and Lead Designer of Toronto-based JUZD bamboo, designers of organic bamboo streetwear, Liu will be the youngest sponsor of the event which introduces tastemakers to innovative product releases from Canadian companies.

Toronto, Ontario – September 5th 2008 – The Fourth Annual Tastemakers Celebrity Lounge is one of the première events of the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Jing Liu, Owner and Lead Designer of JUZD (short for Juiced) Bamboo, will be the event’s youngest sponsor, at the age of 27. Liu, along with other event sponsors including CTV’s eTalk and Sweetspot.ca (as the event’s major sponsors), HBC, Joe Fresh Style, Strellson, and PUMA, will expose event-goers to fresh and unique products coming from some of Canada’s trendiest and most cutting-edge entrepreneurs.

JUZD Bamboo will provide a collection of one-of-a-kind designer bamboo t-shirts for the Tastemakers Celebrity Lounge, running Saturday, September 6th to Friday, September 12th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the InterContinental Toronto Yorkville Hotel. Celebrities involved with the film festival are invited to stop by the Tastemakers Lounge during those times to pick up free goods offered by the event sponsors. The Lounge was opened to scheduled media outlets September 5th.

Liu made history two months ago when his first collection of edgy designer bamboo tees was picked up (with immediate delivery requested) by Canada’s leading luxury retailer, Holt Renfrew. His fast rise in the scene marked a rare event in the fashion industry, where retailers buy lines nine months in advance. Making the quick demand even more shocking is that Liu has no agency design experience or fashion background.

Liu isn’t stopping with Holt Renfrew in his efforts to take the eco-conscious design world by storm. Already working on several deals to extend his line, he expects to see JUZD Bamboo tees available in the US and UK markets before Christmas. Following on the heels of the Holt Renfrew buy, other distributors are also demanding immediate delivery. What is the appeal of the JUZD designs? According to a UK source, “People are tired of going into stores and seeing the same shirt after shirt. This is different. There is presentation, a totally awesome new fabric, and you got this comic in the back. I’m sold!”

Not only are stores taking notice. The media has also jumped onto Liu’s story of finding eco-friendly inspiration to combine his love of art and fashion. Within just 72 hours of announcing the Holt Renfrew deal, eight magazines, four online magazines, a TV show, a radio station, and eight major blogs confirmed coverage.

As the world is eyeing the stars in Toronto, there is a Toronto star that’s eyeing the world.

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About JUZD - The Bamboo Streetwear Clothing Company

JUZD (short for Juiced) www.juzd.com is the planet's first bamboo designer label, established in 2007 by designer Jing Liu. The label emphasizes contemporary high-end streetwear created using exclusive custom-designed and milled bamboo fabric. Each design is inspired by the designer’s vision of “organic” and aggressive style and the philosophy that art and fashion should co-exist in a way that is innovative, eco-conscious, and empowering.

For more information about the event sponsorship, JUZD label, or to set up an interview with Jing Liu, please visit www.JUZD.com or contact Davi Tham at 416-561-2581.

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CONTACT:
Davi Tham
JUZD Bamboo
Tel: 416.561.2581
Email: Davi@juzd.com
Toll-Free: 1.888.589.3462
Fax: 1.888.895.5893
Web: www.JUZD.com