Season 12 Project Runway Winner Launches Collection with Belk

Charlotte-based Belk, Inc., the nation's largest family owned and operated department store, announced a new partnership with Project Runway Season 12 winner Dom Streater. The exclusive collection designed by Streater, "Dom," offers classic, premium designs in modern prints and is now available in 30 Belk locations, including belk.com.

"There was a definite learning curve as I merged my Northeast design aesthetic with the more laid back and feminine style of the Southern woman," said Streater, who visited the Belk corporate office in Charlotte to brainstorm with designers about the look and fit of her collection. "The Belk team helped me ensure my designs would appeal to the Southern lifestyle, and I'm so happy with how the final version turned out."

The opportunity to design a collection for Belk was one of the prizes Streater received when she won season 12 of the reality television show Project Runway. Belk's executive vice president of Private brands, John Thomas, served as a guest judge on one episode of the show.

"Project Runway gave us a platform that we didn't have before," said Thomas. "It gave us more credibility with a national audience, showed we're serious about fashion and created more awareness about our brand. We were happy to play such an integral part of the show, and now we're thrilled to work with Dom on her collection designed specifically for the Belk customer. She's a talented apparel designer who also created her own prints for the collection."

The collection includes four dresses, a shirt and pants and ranges in price from $79-139. "They're comfortable pieces that are also flattering on any figure," she said. "I absolutely love them, and I'm confident the Southern woman will too."

About Belk, Inc.

Charlotte, N.C.-based Belk, Inc. (www.belk.com) is the nation's largest family owned and operated department store company with 299 Belk stores located in 16 Southern states and a growing digital presence.Its belk.com website offers a wide assortment of national brands and Private label fashion apparel, shoes and accessories for the entire family along with top name cosmetics, a wedding registry and a large selection of quality merchandise for the home. Founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk in Monroe, N.C., the company is in the third generation of Belk family leadership and has been committed to community involvement since its inception. In the fiscal year ended Feb. 1, 2014, the company and its associates, customers and vendors donated more than $20.9 million to communities within Belk market areas.

Belk offers many ways to connect via digital and social media, including Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, Google Plus and Belk Blog, and provides exclusive offers, fashion updates, sales notifications and coupons via email or mobile phone text messages. Customers can also download the latest Belk mobile apps for the iPad, iPhone or Android.