• Ford is hosting "Guayaberas y Fusion," an event held in conjunction with Fashion Week in Miami, that showcases how the vehicle design process incorporates elements of fashion

• The all-new Ford Fusion sedan and the guayabera, an iconic shirt worn across many Hispanic cultures, both feature sustainable materials along with high-quality detailing and impeccable craftsmanship

• Similarities between the two products offer a glimpse into the convergence of global design

MIAMI, March 22, 2012 - They're both created from high-end materials, with intricate detailing and an elegant form. They're both sleek and stylish, designed to turn heads on the streets.

But here's the unusual part: One you wear. The other you drive. And yet the comparisons between the next-generation Ford Fusion design and the guayabera, an iconic shirt worn across many Hispanic cultures, are unmistakable.

That's one reason why Ford is hosting "Guayaberas y Fusion," an event held in conjunction with Fashion Week in Miami that highlights fashion and culture and showcases how the vehicle design process incorporates many elements of fashion.

"The thought that goes into designing a new vehicle is extensive," says Ford designer Anthony Prozzi, who was formerly a fashion designer for Donna Karan. "And it's very similar in many ways to the creative process fashion designers follow when they're creating clothing."

Comparing quality products

The guayabera is a common sight at many high-end cultural events in places like Cuba, Puerto Rico and Mexico, and it's been popular for generations.

The shirt is recognizable for its visible detailing - like the two lines of stitching that run down its front - and its intricate pleating. Its high-quality, lightweight material and festive array of colors make it instantly recognizable to many.

Likewise, the next-generation Ford Fusion caught the eye of many auto enthusiasts when it debuted in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, where it showed off its refined, unmistakable silhouette. At NAIAS, the Fusion earned a variety of accolades, including the prestigious Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology Eyes On Design award and the Best in Show award from Autoweek.

Detail and craftsmanship are key inside the new Ford Fusion, as well. Dynamic structural elements throughout, like the real metal grilles over the speakers, show that every detail of the car has been aesthetically enhanced. Surfaces are softer to the touch, and nothing has been left to chance - even the audio volume knob is shaped to better fit the customer's fingers.

At Guayaberas y Fusion, Miami fashion designers and auto designers from Ford are meeting to discuss the similarities and challenges of creating such high-quality products, and comparing and contrasting the processes that bring their respective products to life.

"The most alluring part for me is that each piece is as personal as the individual wearing it," said Miamiguayaberadesigner Maria Ofelia Gravier Armas. "I combine textures, hues, contrasts, prints, lace and trims into a unique 'fusion' that leads to a beautifully distinctive and elegant piece."

Sustainability is another likely topic for discussion, and something else the two products have in common. Guayaberas are created primarily from natural linen. The Fusion interior offers thinner, lighter seats trimmed with fabric that uses recycled, sustainable yarns. The Fusion also offers some unexpected green touches, like recycled post-industrial cotton from blue jeans used as sound-absorbing material, and seat cushions made from soy-based foam.

The all-new Fusion also is the first sedan to offer gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid editions, each with expected top fuel economy.

"The public has an interest in design and designers like never before," said Prozzi. "And like many creative fields, we face the challenge of how to be not just exciting but also meaningful - we must design with a conscience."

The similarities between Ford and the fashion world only emphasize today's global design convergence, he said.

"Good taste resonates across the globe," Prozzi said. "It's true with fashion, and it's true with the Fusion."

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