The winners of this year’s Graduate Fashion Week Gala Awards were announced last week, celebrating the Talent of Tomorrow with stars such as Rebecca Wilson, Aurélie Fontan and Evelyn Babin. Judges included Diane Von Furstenberg heading up the Gold Award, Oliver Spencer and Henry Holland with the awards taking place at the home of Graduate Fashion Week, The Truman Brewery in Shoreditch, London.
Boux Avenue Swimwear Award went to Lucy Nolan (Northumbira University) while the Lingerie Award was awarded to Daniella Jayes (De Montfort University). Judges included Sue Dover, Debby Duckett, Alex Paphitis. Winner Lucy Nolan said: “I think I’m speechless for the first time in my entire life! With my collection it was all Japanese inspired, sushi inspired, so I’ve made a six-piece collection of swimwear with all screen prints.”
Tessuti Sports & Leisurewear Award was given to Georgia Lyne from Nottingham Trent University for her collection inspired by youth culture. The prestigious Christopher Bailey Gold Award was awarded to Rebecca Wilson (Arts University Bournemouth) for her menswear, womenswear and childrenswear collection, while the Debenhams Menswear Award was presented to Hannah Gibbons (University of Brighton) for her product development and textile design to dying and the creation of all of the textures.
M&S Womenswear Award was presented to Aurelie Fontan (Edinburgh College of Art), the Visionary Knitwear Award was presented to Fraser Miller (De Montfort University) and Jacaranda Brain (Nottingham Trent University), while the Catwalk Textiles Award went to Aurelie Fontan (Edinburgh College of Art). The Hilary Alexander Trailblazer Award sponsored by Swarovski has gone to Evelyne Babin (University for the Creative Arts Epsom) for the social message that she gave; the George Catwalk to Store Award went to Louise Clarke (Manchester School of Art) for her desire to inspire others, and the Bonmarché Fashion For All Award went to Bethany Wainwright (University of Central Lancashire).
The TU at Sainsbury’s Womenswear Scholarship went to Jennifer Healy (Manchester School of Art) and the Tu at Sainsbury’s Menswear Scholarship was awarded to Molly Hopwood (University of Leeds), while Dame Vivienne Westwood Sustainable and Ethical Award Sponsored by LEVIS went to Aurelie Fontan (Edinburgh College of Art).
The complete list of winners can be found at the Graduate Fashion Week website.
