Fashion student bags top design award

A FASHION student from Manchester School of Art has won one of the country’s top prizes for accessories design.

Amy Davidson, who is about to complete her final year of a BA (Hons) fashion degree, scooped the Mulberry Accessories Award at this year’s Graduate Fashion Week.

She created a range of briefcases and bags based on the intricate designs of gothic architecture.

Lasercutting techniques meant the 21 year-old from Ashton was able to add an extra level of detail to her creations.

She said: “I’m really interested in gothic architecture – I like the details, and using lasercutting makes it easier to include those details in my designs.

“I felt overwhelmed when I heard that I had won – I was really shocked because the standard of competition was so high.”

Jo Jenkinson, Head of Fashion at Manchester School of Art, said: “It is a mark of a good designer to be able to work across different product types, and having specialised in womenswear throughout her degree Amy has done exceptionally well to win such a major prize for her accessories and gain a place on the prestigious RCA MA accessories course.

“Amy is an example of what is possible in the multi-disciplinary environment of the School of Art. We are very proud of her.”

There were more successes for Manchester students at Graduate Fashion Week when Lisa McConniffe was named as a runner up in the British Fashion Council/Warehouse design competition. She will receive an internship at the High Street giant.

The winner of the coveted £20,000 Gold Award, sponsored by George, will be announced at a gala ceremony tomorrow evening.

Graduate Fashion Week is the premier showcase for fashion students in the UK. This year 18 Manchester School of Art students were picked to showcase their work on the catwalk. The Manchester School of Art show will take place this evening.

For the first time, students from Hollings also showcased their work as part of the Graduate Fashion Week exhibition.