Monday 8 March 2010
Fashion stars in running for host of national awards
Fashion design graduates and part-time lecturers, Susi Henson and May Cortazzi
It's shaping up to be another excellent year for fashion at Nottingham Trent University as students and graduates make the shortlists for a host of top national awards. Two graduates are in the running for the British Council's UK Young Fashion Entrepreneur of the Year Award, three students are challenging for the ASBCI Student Design Award, and one has reached the final stage of the Pringle and British Fashion Council Design Competition.
Fashion Design graduates Susi Henson and May Cortazzi – who are also part-time lecturers in the university's School of Art and Design – have reached the final five of the UK Young Fashion Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Susi runs lingerie, corsetry and bridalwear business Eternal Spirits, while May is the creative director of her contemporary and stylish ethical label, Regenerate clothing.
Three students are also in the running for the New Look-sponsored ASBCI Student Design Awards, which required undergraduates to design collections for its 'True Brit' challenge. Fashion design undergraduate, Louise Howells, and fashion knitwear design students Sara Whitney and Ellie Marston, have been selected to create their designs after producing mood and inspiration boards, capturing what they feel makes Britain great.
Fashion knitwear design student Jo Bee, meanwhile, has been made a finalist in the national Pringle of Scotland and British Fashion Council competition. Jo produced research work, mood and inspiration boards, knitted swatches and fabrics as well as illustrations for a six-piece collection. The brief involved designing outfits for a menswear or womenswear collection which, while modern and innovative, also played on the heritage of Scotland.
In addition, a team of fashion marketing and communication students has been chosen to host a River Island Rocks event, a competition run by the high-street chain in conjunction with Graduate Fashion Week to showcase up-and-coming creative talent.
Harriet French, Charlotte Fallows and Anna Vitiello make up one of just four university teams hosting an event in March to devise, plan, market and execute an event with River Island to celebrate the best new local undiscovered talent in music, models and designers. A winner will be selected, with judges looking for the most professional event in terms of quality and management.
The achievements build on the success of last year's students who won an array of awards including first prize at FAD, first prize in New Look's Design Futures competition, and the UK finals of top marketing competition, L'Oréal Brandstorm.
The Dean of Nottingham Trent University's School of Art and Design, Professor Judith Mottram, said: “Students are encouraged to participate in national and international competitions and investigate potential links and sponsorship from industry in preparation for future careers. For so many to reach the final stage of judging is fantastic and shows the range of creative talents we have across the fashion programmes in the School of Art and Design.”
Notes to editors:
For more on the British Council visit the British Council website.
Press enquiries please contact Dave Rogers, Senior Press Officer, Nottingham Trent University, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8782, or via email, or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, Nottingham Trent University, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8774, or via email.
