London Fashion Week for FAD finalist students

OUTFITS designed by two Manchester Metropolitan University students are set to walk the catwalk at London Fashion Week after being named finalists in the FAD competition.

Hollings Fashion Design and Technology student, Eleanor Rickers, and Manchester School of Art Fashion student, Lauren Glen, are among 17 finalists in the competition run by charitable organisation Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD).

Eleanor said: “It’s such a privilege to have been chosen as a FAD finalist. It is a fantastic opportunity to showcase my work to a wider audience and to meet interesting people who have different approaches to fashion.”

Both students will showcase two outfits each at the FAD competition catwalk at Fashion Scout on the 22nd February at London Fashion Week.

Intelligent and challenging briefs

The strength of the competition lies with its intelligent and challenging briefs. This year’s brief was ‘A Sense of Place’. Contestants were encouraged to ‘slow down’ and connect with their surroundings by paying attention to sights, sounds, smells, textures and emotions that usually go unnoticed. Contestants had to design a ‘mini-collection’ of two outfits, either menswear or womenswear, inspired by the beauty in the mundane.

Lauren’s ideas came from a trip to Ningbo in Eastern China where the city’s abandoned buildings, cracked paint and undergrowth inspired her designs: “The city left a lasting impression on me.”

Final year student Eleanor whose menswear designs were inspired by ‘fishing in the city, said: “My fascination of the modern landscape lead to my sense of place being made up of a contrast of a fast paced, futuristic city, built around a traditional fishing port.”

Undeniable springboard

The FAD competition was described by Vogue as an “undeniable springboard” to a career in the industry with past FAD finalists successfully going on to work for companies such as Vivienne Westwood, Burberry and Jean Paul Gaultier.

On her plans for the future, Eleanor said: “Once I graduate, I plan to work as a Menswear Designer to gain more experience within the fashion industry - with the hope of setting up my own brand in the future and I know being a FAD finalist will help me a great deal.”

Lauren said: “Being able to show my work to so many industry professionals at once is so fantastic, and having the platform to show something I worked so hard on is exciting in itself. I’m quite stressed trying to make sure everything is finished to a high standard.”

Both students impressed Manchester Metropolitan University mentors and tutors through their academic work, dedication and creativity. John Earnshaw, Senior Lecturer in BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Technology, and Susan Atkin, Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Fashion, said: “We are thrilled that Eleanor and Lauren were selected as FAD finalists and wish them both the best of luck. Their work typifies the individuality and creativity from our fashion and fashion design and technology students and we are sure both will go on to do amazing things.”