Edinburgh College of Art fashion graduates took five of the prestigious
awards at this year’s Graduate Fashion Week in London including the
Christopher Bailey Gold Award, Marks and Spencer Womenswear Award, and
Catwalk Textiles Award.
The Scottish university had five of its fashion graduates represented in
the best 25 collections of Graduate Fashion Week, including Halina North
who was presented with the Gold Award for her collection of sculptural
dresses made from recycled paper and supermarket plastic bags, as well as
the new Swarovski Hilary Alexander Trailblazer Award, which is awarded to a
“memorable collection that reflects the UK enthusiasm for the new, the
fresh, the untried, an example of a great new unpublished fashion
direction”.
Commenting on her win, Halina North, said: “I was absolutely astonished
to be announced as the winner. There were so many strong collections on
show, so to be selected for the Gold Award is incredible. My designs mix
sustainable textiles with high fashion, which is something I am keen to
explore further. This award will be a huge boost towards helping me pursue
this exciting area of fashion.”
North was chosen her “great body of work” that the judges explained had
a “great sense of creative development” and was “experimental and had
immediate impact during the show”. As the Gold Award winner she takes home
10,000 pounds, while Edinburgh College of Art takes home 2,000 pounds. The
runner-up was Abigail Coop from Nottingham Trent University.
There was also success for promising Edinburgh College of Art fashion
designer Irene D’Antonio, who took home the Marks and Spencer’s Womenswear
Award for her Japanese inspired collection. D’Antonio wins 5,000 pounds,
while the university was awarded 1,000 pounds. Runner-up was Claire Tagg
from UCA Rochester.
There was further success for the Scottish university as Ruth Williams
won the Visionary Knitwear Award, which comes with a 1,000 pounds prize,
while Maddie Williams was named the Catwalk Textiles Award winner, ahead of
fellow Edinburgh College of Art graduate Frankie Dean who was runner-up, to
win the 1,000 pounds cash prize for her collection of dresses designed for
six urban goddesses.
Mal Burkinshaw, fashion programme director at Edinburgh College of Art,
said: “We are delighted to have had such unprecedented success at Graduate
Fashion Week. It will offer students a step into the industry and we have
seen a lot of interest in their work already.
“At Edinburgh College of Art, we are passionate about encouraging
students to express their individuality through their collections. I feel
very privileged to work with such a creative group of aspiring designers,
and am thrilled that they have been recognised in this way.”
This isn’t the first year that Edinburgh College of Art has stolen the
show during Graduate Fashion Week in 2015 Melissa Villevieille won the
womenswear, catwalk textiles and David Band textile awards, and in 2013,
Lauren Smith scooped the Gold Award, while Shauni Douglas and Olivia Creber
were awarded the menswear award, and in 2012, Riona Horrox was also won the
menswear award.
The big menswear award sponsored by Debenhams was won by Daniel Rynne
from Arts University Bournemouth. He takes home 5,000 pounds, while his
university is awarded 1,000 pounds.
The George Catwalk to Store award, which awards a graduate collection
that showcases “strong commercial potential” was awarded to womenswear
designer Laura Capello from Bath Spa University for her creative, yet
wearable collection. The first runner up was Daniel Rynne from Arts
University Bournemouth and the second runner-up was Zsofia Juhasz from
Manchester School of Art.
Tu at Sainsbury’s also awarded two scholarships this year. The
womenswear year-long scholarship was awarded to Laura Gillings from Bath
Spa University, who will receive mentorship from Henry Holland, while the
menswear scholarship that includes mentorship from Oliver Spencer was won
by Amy Venderwel from Nottingham Trent University.
Other awards given on the night included the Bonmarche Fashion For All
Award, which was presented to Caroline Bowden from University of Central
Lancashire, while the Mothercare Childrenswear Award was won by Catherine
Watts from University of Salford, and the Clarks Footwear Award went to
Megan Davies from the University of South Wales.
Other universities featured in the top 25 collections of Graduate
Fashion Week were Brighton University, Kingston University, Liverpool John
Moores University, Sheffield Hallam University, Ravensbourne, and UCA
Rochester.
There were a number of awards that were presented throughout Graduate
Fashion Week including the Vivienne Westwood Ethical Award that was
presented to Catherine Watts from The University of Salford, while the YKK
Accessories Award was won by Megan Evans from the University of South
Wales, and the Boux Avenue Swimwear and Lingerie Awards were presented to
Lucy Watkins from De Montfort University for swimwear and Charley Chiddle
also from De Montfort University for lingerie.
Judges for this year’s Graduate Fashion Week awards included Angela
Missoni, Holly Fulton, Palmer Harding, Sadie Frost, John Rocha, Aitor
Throp, Katie Roberts-Wood, Myleene Klass, Henry Holland, and Oliver
Spencer.
Images: via Graduate Fashion Week website