George at ASDA named as title sponsor of Graduate Fashion Week

Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) has announced George at Asda as the event’s new title sponsor for 2011 (5-8 June). The announcement comes as Graduate Fashion Week prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary and George celebrates its 21st birthday. Each year Graduate Fashion Week celebrates the work of more than 1,000 BA Degree fashion students from 65 member universities across the UK and overseas, for the biggest showcase of young talent in the world.

Fiona Lambert, Brand Director at George, who has been a member of the GFW Mentoring Panel for the last 2 years, commented “Despite the tough economy, we felt we should pull out all the stops to come forward and support our young graduates. These students are the emerging designers of tomorrow and I am delighted that we are able to support their future careers, and that they will still able to showcase their collections in London next June.”

(Rebecca Thomson is shown above collecting the Gold Award at GFW earlier this year)

Graduate Fashion 2010 Winners announced

Graduate Fashion Week took place this week, with the top prize - the River Island Gold Award - going to Rebecca Thomson from the Manchester University School of Art (pictured). The prize was judged and presented by Alberta Ferretti, Kim Jones, Lorraine Candy, editor-in-chief of Elle, GQ Editor Dylan Jones and Naomi Dominique; title sponsor River Island’s Womenswear Design Director. The judging criteria for the River Island Gold Award outlined that the collection should demonstrate exceptional ability in Design, Cut and Construction as well as excellent use of colour and fabric. Rhea Fields from Northbrook College was the successful winner of the Womenswear Award. She was selected for her award by the panel of Gold Award judges. The panel also selected Thomas Crisp of Ravensbourne as the winner of the menswear award. Hosted by Caryn Franklin, this year’s Graduate Fashion Week Gala show celebrated its 19th anniversary and saw an array of fashion figures lending support to the event including Erin O’Connor, Zandra Rhodes, Nicola Roberts, Emma Hill (Mulberry), Jeff Banks (President, Graduate Fashion Week), Terry Mansfield CBE (Chairman, Graduate Fashion Week) and Harold Tillman (Chairman, British Fashion Council). Support from the GFW Mentoring Panel will be offered to all Graduate Fashion Week winners. The complete list of winners is shown below:

The River Island Gold Award - Rebecca Thomson from Manchester University School of Art.

Womenswear Award - Rhea Fields from Northbrook College

Menswear Award - Thomas Crisp of Ravensbourne

Zandra Rhodes Catwalk Textiles Award - Anna Lee from De Montfort

Bhm Knitwear Visionary Knitwear Award - Ledina Zhang from Northumbria.

Hammerson Fashion Innovation Award - Katie Burkes and Susie O’Brien.

The Mulberry Accessories Award - Kitty Keay from Colchester School of Art.

Textiles Award - Natalie Murray from Northumbria University.

The Hachette Filipacchi Media and Design Award - Alice Barnes from Northumbria University.

The Lyle & Scott Strategic Marketing Award - Amy Quickfall, from Northumbria

Per Aquum Creative Marketing Award - Jessica Dance from the Arts University at Bournemouth

Stand Design Award - The Arts University College at Bournemouth

Jon Adam Fashion Portfolio Award - Ellie Mountford from the Arts University College Bournemouth.

The "First Word" Journalism Award - Ellen Devall from the Colchester School of Art

New fashion design concept launches online tomorrow

Own Label is a new concept in fashion design, aiming to give new designers a chance to showcase work and have garments manufactured and sold online. Own Label post specific briefs on the website, designers then submit their designs in line with the brief and the best are published on the site to be voted for by the online community. The designs with the largest number of votes at the end of the competition are manufactured and sold through the online store with the designer's name on the label. Own Label will officially launch tomorrow during Graduate Fashion Week. Graduate Fashion Week is a natural partner for Own Label. There is a wealth of creative talent graduating from UK fashion colleges each year, with opportunities for new designers demonstrate skills in a commercial setting, Own Label hopes to provide a new channel from which the top designers of the future can emerge. www.own-label.com