CHRIS CORTEZ WINS "THE CUT" AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO DESIGN HIS OWN FASHION LINE UNDER THE TOMMY HILFIGER LABEL

After being one of the three remaining designers, Chris Cortez emerged triumphant last night as the winner of THE CUT, and was awarded his dream come true -- the opportunity to design his own collection under the Tommy Hilfiger label, and to become the next great American designer. The decision was made by Tommy Hilfiger after the final three designers unveiled the windows they created on Seventh Ave. at Macy's Herald Square in New York City.

Chris Cortez, originally from Bridgeport, Conn., has been studying at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where he is a candidate for an MFA in graphic design. He is the first person in his family to attend college and pursue a master's degree. With over 100 pieces of Tommy clothing in his wardrobe, this is the realization of Chris' life-long goal to work for his design hero.

The 16 designers spent six weeks living together in a Manhattan Loft while they literally lived Tommy's Hilfiger's life in fast forward and competed in a series of grueling style assignments which tested their talent, business acumen, sales and marketing expertise, social skills, resourcefulness and style IQs.

The 16 designers were:

Felix Arguelles, 35, Los Angeles Cut 9/2
Jeff Berin, 42, Chicago Cut 7/20
Deanna Bonin, 23, Hollywood, Calif. Cut 8/26
Chris Cortez, 26, Bridgeport, Conn.
Wes Davis, 25, New Orleans Cut 8/26
Jessica Dereschuk, 22, Stacey, Minn. Cut 7/27
Vlada Drukh, 24, St. Louis Cut 6/16
Julie O'Connor, 37, St. Louis Cut 7/6
Elizabeth Saab, 30, Beverly Hills, Calif.
Amy Salinger, 26, Chicago Cut 6/9
Chris Sherrill, 25, Nashville, Tenn. Cut 6/23
Shauna Storey, 39, New Orleans Cut 8/12
Rob Walker, 35, Brooklyn, N.Y. Cut 8/5
Tommy Walton, 42, Chicago Cut 6/30
Princess Warren, 22, Philadelphia
James Wolfe, 27, San Diego Cut 7/13