THE BRIEF
URBAN VINTAGE 2002

The Graduate Fashion Competition 2002 supported by The British Fashion Council.

Fashion Awareness Direct is committed to helping young designers succeed in their careers and, to this purpose, organizes an annual competition (now in its second year) for fashion students at colleges across the UK.

The first FAD Graduate Fashion Competition was launched in October 2000 and the winners were announced at the Finalists' Evening at Delfina Studios, Bermondsey, London on 15th March 2001. The brief asked competitors to reflect architectural evolution from St Paul's
Cathedral to the Tate Modern in the design of a capsule collection for work and leisure.

The prizes for the winner and two runners-up were awarded by the well-known architect, Spencer de Grey of the Norman Foster Partnership. Prizes consisted of cash prizes and work placements with G. srl Society of Florence, Selfridges and Belinda Robertson. The
three winners of the FAD Graduate Fashion Competition 2001 were students from Central St. Martin's, the Surrey Institute of Art & Design and the Berkshire College of Art & Design.

Entrants for the competition should bear in mind FAD's philosophy: that fashion should empower the individual and enhance the dignity of the wearer. FAD supports the ideals of creativity, innovation and originality in the design and making of fashion wear.

For the 2002 Competition, students are asked to turn their intellectual and fashion design skills to a new brief - Paris in the 1950s and a classic musical film...

The Competition Brief
URBAN VINTAGE 2002 Vintage Renaissance 21st century

Look back to Paris in the early 1950s, where new advanced concepts in fashion, film, art and literature emerged to set the standard for the modern world.

Consider the light-hearted film, An American in Paris, and its interpretation of Left Bank versus Right Bank, highlighting glamour, society, and city life. Scenes in the film become fashion shoots – images complete with immaculatemake-up and accessories.

Using this film as inspiration, you are asked to create a thoroughly contemporary style:
Urban Vintage.

Highlights
1. The city - Paris
2. The essence - "couture meets flea markets"
3. The society – polemic
4. The face - stylised
5. The accessories – detailed
6. The hair – avant-garde
7. The sounds - Gershwin

Two designs are to be formed:
1. "Left Bank" To reflect the art of streetstyle
2. "Right Bank" To reflect the established lifestyle

The Competition Guidelines
Eligibility
1. Participants must be second year, third year or MA students from colleges belonging to the Colleges’ Forum of the British Fashion Council.
2. Each college is allowed up to a maximum of three applications.

Submissions
Submissions should consist of two sketches (showing the front and the back) including swatches for each category (Left Bank and Right Bank) and a research sketchbook. Also an interpretation (max. 200 words) is required.

Entries should be sent by registered mail to
Fashion Awareness Direct,
42 Woodlands Road,
Surbiton,
Surrey KT6 6PY,
between 26th to 30th November 2001.