Fergie Unveils Swarovski's 550 pound, 25,000 Crystal Star and Celebrity-Decorated Star Ornaments at Rockefeller Center on Behalf of Clothes Off Our Back

NEW YORK, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Swarovski, the legendary fine accessory brand, dazzles New York this season with its annual star unveiling at Rockefeller Center. Fashion-forward celebrity, Fergie kicks off the 2008 holiday season by unveiling a custom-designed 9.5 foot, 550 pound star, which is adorned with more than 25,000 Swarovski crystals, that will sit atop the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.

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Swarovski partnered with style-savvy trendsetters -- Fergie, Jennifer Garner, Ellen DeGeneres, Teri Hatcher, Kristin Chenoweth, Kelly Rutherford, Kate Walsh, Maria Bello, Dita Von Teese, Forest and Keisha Whitaker, Jane Kaczmarek, and Cate Adair along with the entire Desperate Housewives cast -- to design and auction off miniature Swarovski stars benefiting Clothes Off Our Back, a non-profit organization that contributes to children's charities. With fashion and flair, these celebrities have gone all out with their stellar design talents and "star power." These dazzling creations will be auctioned off at www.clothesoffourback.org from November 12 through December 10.

"I'm happy being a part of this Swarovski program as celebrities and designers come together offering their talents to benefit the lives of children in positive ways," said Fergie. "Swarovski's partnership with Clothes Off Our Back brings cheer to children across the globe."

Also, Swarovski is donating $250,000 from the sales of its Annual Edition holiday ornament to Clothes Off Our Back to benefit children's charities worldwide through charity auctions of today's hottest celebrity attire.

"We are honored that Swarovski has chosen Clothes Off Our Back as the charity partner of this signature annual event," said Jane Kaczmarek, Co-Founder of Clothes Off Our Back. "Swarovski's generosity will allow us to make this holiday season extra special by supporting children in need through fashion."

"Swarovski is honored to dazzle Rockefeller Center for the fifth straight year," said Kevin Coen, Executive Vice President of Consumer Goods Business Swarovski NA Limited. "All of us at Swarovski are pleased to bring together this select group of celebrities to benefit the children of Clothes Off Our Back."

Taking 12 weeks to design and over 2,500 hours to create, the largest star ever to adorn the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree -- the Swarovski Star -- glistens with more than 25,000 crystals and required a team of 15 designers, engineers, crystal makers, lighting consultants and construction technicians in both Austria and New York. This dedication and hard work brings forth this striking combination of art, science and technology and allows it to sparkle throughout the ever-changing New York City winter weather.

The Swarovski ornament is available at Swarovski stores nationwide and retails for $75. For retail locations, call 1-800-426-3088 or visit www.swarovski.com.

About Swarovski

113 years ago, in 1895, Daniel Swarovski I, a Bohemian inventor and visionary, moved to the village of Wattens, Tyrol in Austria, with his newly-invented machine for cutting and polishing crystal jewellery stones. From these beginnings, which revolutionised the fashion world, Swarovski has grown to be the world's leading producer of precision-cut crystal, for fashion, jewellery and more recently lighting, architecture and interiors. Today, the company, still based in Wattens, family-owned and run by 4th and 5th generation family members, has a global reach, with some 22.000 employees, a presence in over 120 countries and a turnover in 2007 of 2.56 billion Euros. Swarovski comprises two major divisions, one producing and selling loose crystals to the industry and the other creating design-driven finished products. Swarovski crystal components, known by their product brand names CRYSTALLIZED(TM) -- Swarovski Elements for fashion and STRASS(R) Swarovski(R) Crystal for architecture and light, have become an essential ingredient of international design. Showing the creativity that lies at the heart of the company, Swarovski's own-brand lines of accessories, jewellery and home decor are sold through more than 1150 Swarovski stores and concessions in all major fashion capitals, while the exclusive Daniel Swarovski accessories collection has become the company's Couture signature. The Swarovski Crystal Society has close to 400,000 members worldwide, keen collectors of the celebrated crystal figurines. And in Wattens, Crystal Worlds, the multi-media crystal museum, has attracted over 7 million visitors since it was opened in 1995, as a celebration of Swarovski's universe of innovation and inspiration, of crystal as the ultimate creative material. The Swarovski corporation also includes four industrial brands, Tyrolit(R), manufacturing grinding tools, Swareflex, for road safety reflectors, Optik, producing precision optical instruments and Signity, Swarovski's brand for genuine and created gemstones.

Illuminating Fashion and Culture, Home and Leisure -- www.swarovski.com.

About Clothes Off Our Back(R)

The Clothes Off Our Back Foundation(R) is a 501c3 organization that hosts charity auctions showcasing today's hottest celebrity attire. Items are put up for bid to the public with proceeds going to benefit children's charities. Clothes Off Our Back was founded by actors and philanthropists Jane Kaczmarek ("Malcolm In The Middle," "Help Me, Help You") and Bradley Whitford ("The West Wing," "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip") whose efforts, along with their celebrity and designer friends have helped improve the lives of children across the globe. Additional information can be found at www.clothesoffourback.org.

SOURCE Swarovski