Friday 27 February 2009

Winner of the 2009 FAD Competition

UK fashion students in ‘galactic’ showcase at London Fashion Week

Nottingham Trent fashion student, Ana Belen Meroño, beat hopefuls from universities and colleges across the UK to become this year’s winner of the prestigious FAD Competition, which took place atVauxhall Fashion Scout on Tuesday 24th February.

The young designer, originally from Madrid, impressed the jury with her sophisticated and highlypolished designs. Her first garment was a structured jacket featuring a digital Op-Art print, while the second outfit paired a cosmic cloud print dress with ‘armour’ inspired layering. Ana’s designreceived a unanimous vote from this year’s jury panel, winning her £2,000 and a work placement with designer and FAD Frontline member, Paul Costelloe, who was there on the evening to present the winning prize.

Felicity Baggett, also of Nottingham Trent was announced as one of the two runners up. Her wearable menswear collection was inspired by space suits, featuring subtle planetary patterns and vacuum moulded spheres. Camilla Kennedy, Birmingham City University, was awarded the second runner up prize. Both students received £1,000 and an industry placement with designers Margaret Howell and Religion respectively.

Fourteen finalists from ten UK universities/colleges took part in the show, presenting a collection inspired by this year’s brief: ‘Urban Holographic’. For 2009 FAD asked students to explore the concept of Retrofuturism and space tourism; looking back at 1960’s curved design and films such as ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ to create fashionable ‘uniforms’ for galactic hosts/hostesses. In the final each student presented two outfits, drawing inspiration from the planets and solar system for colour, print and embellishment.

The event is heavily supported by the industry, and this year’s jury encompassed both fashion experts and space specialists including: Dolly Jones, Editor Vogue.com; Esther Lutman, Curator of The Space Age exhibition at the V&A; Jeremy Curtis of the British National Space Centre; Martyn Roberts, Director of Vauxhall Fashion Scout and one of 2009’s hottest new designers, William Tempest.

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