Here at Graduate Fashion Week, we are all about helping graduates launch themselves into the industry, by providing a platform that celebrates all areas of fashion. One way that we offer opportunities is through awards! We have several available over this years event, from swimwear and lingerie to styling and creative direction. Read on to find out a little more about what awards we have up for grabs, and what the criteria is.
Our three largest awards are as follows:
The Gold Award
For the winning student, there is a £10,000 prize, with £2,000 going to the university.
The Marks & Spencer Womenswear Award
The winning student with receive £5,000, and their university £1,000.
The Debenhams Menswear Award
The winning student with receive £5,000 and the university £1,000.
The judges will be looking for similar things when choosing the winning collection to take home the above awards. Important things to note, are the creativity, design, cut, craftsmanship, colour and fabric of the pieces. The winning collection will clearly demonstrate an exceptional ability in all of these things. When on the catwalk, the pieces must have a clear impact, combining both outstanding craftsmanship and truly original creativity.
Visionary Knitwear
The visionary knitwear award will go to a collection showing an appropriate use of colour, texture, yarn and silhouette for the fashion statement being made. The collection should be creative, moving fashion forward, technically excellent in craftsmanship and production whilst demonstrating an understanding of the identified market.
The judges will look for both creativity as well as the impact the garments make on the catwalk, alongside the intricate craftsmanship.
Catwalk Textiles
In order to claim the catwalk textiles award, you will need to have created an innovative print, or constructed textile collection showing an appropriate use of colour, texture and pattern relative to both textiles and the garments. The collections statement should be clear, and supported by all elements of the garments.
It is important that the collection is creative, groundbreaking in that it looks towards the future through both innovation and creativity, technically excellent in production and craftsmanship, all whilst clearly noting an understanding of the identifiable market.
The judges will be looking out for the creativity, impact on the catwalk and the craftsmanship.
International Catwalk Competition
The International Catwalk Competition was started in 2013 to celebrate and raise the profile of international institutions and give them a chance to come together to showcase their brightest new talent. The event has been highly successful with the first ever winner 4 years on showing his collection at London Fashion Week.
30 institutions worldwide are invited to send their best graduate at BA level or equivalent to showcase their work at the world’s largest event for fashion graduates and compete for the chance to be named the best collection in the international market.
The winning graduate will receive £1000, International Press and have their collection showcased at Fashion Scout, the international platform for fashion pioneers during Spring Summer 18 at London Fashion Week. The first and second runners up will win £500 and £250 respectively. This award can only be applied for through your university so ensure you ask your tutors about the International Catwalk Competition.