2010 FAD Competition Winners

Written by Fashion Futures 2 Finalist Grace Wales-Bonner

This year’s F.A.D Competition final was as thrilling and exciting as ever. 14 finalists from 10 different universities joined forces to present their work on the catwalk at Vauxhall Fashion Scout on Monday 22nd of February.

2010 F.A.D. Competition Winner, Rasa Abramaviciute

The catwalk event provided a platform for many talented undergraduates to present their work to industry and press guests. The standard of talent was extremely high, but it was Rasa Abramaviciute, 22, a 2nd year fashion student at Middlesex University, who scooped first prize for her mini- collection.

Rasa’s work was inspired by her childhood in Lithuania. The young designer’s first garment was constructed entirely from leather with Lithuanian folk print and innovative 3-D origami details. Her second outfit represented the unity of her country, with a patchwork carpet dress in earthy shades, offset by a structural leather jacket. They both portrayed the talented student’s attention to detail and skilful craftsmanship which were rewarded with a £2,000 cash prize and internship with Dame Vivienne Westwood.

2010 F.A.D. Competition Winner, Rasa Abramaviciute

1st Runner-up, Alice-Jane Hutton

Other delighted award winners included 1st runner-up Alice-Jane Hutton, 22, who gained £1,000 and a placement with Paul Smith. The DeMontfort University student’s impressive collection, entitled AutoReCollection focused heavily on print inspired by her grandfather’s profession as an interior designer for Ford in the 1950’s. Her simple and elegant cropped shirts, tailored trousers and floaty skirts were very wearable and were brought to life by her beautiful juxtaposition of graphic and abstract prints in retro blue and green hues.

2nd Runner-up, Rebecca Solity

An excited Rebecca Solity, 22, also from DeMontfort University, was awarded the 2nd runner-up prize. Her first garment referenced elements of military attire, with leather pocket and collar details, softened by billowing layers of handwritten letter prints in pastel shades. Her second garment was a dress inspired by her close connection with her sister. It used layering, fractured face prints and alternating lengths to cleverly suggest the similarities and subtle differences between them. Rebecca’s imaginative approach to the brief won her £1,000 and an internship with Jonathan Saunders.

To mark the turning of a new decade, F.A.D asked students to look back and explore the concept of memory to create a fashion legacy for future generations. The brief this year challenged the students to look at the ‘traces’ of both a personal and collective memory. The jury and audience alike were particularly impressed by the moving personal memories which the young designers shared in their sketchbooks and were echoed in their garments.

Special Mention, Vera Thordardottir

24-year-old Vera Thordardottir for example, who received a special mention from the jury, sought her inspiration from the memory of an avalanche which wiped out her grandparents’ home in Iceland in the nineties. The Istituto Marangoni student’s mini collection comprised icy blues and whites with a ghostly silhouette. Her emotive and conceptual design was rewarded with an internship at William Tempest.

Now in its 9th year, the F.A.D competition provides a platform for second and third year students to showcase their work to the press and industry before they graduate, helping close the gap between education and vocation. The charity show fitted perfectly with Vauxhall Fashion Scout’s ethic of presenting emerging innovative talent. It was inspiring to see how the charity continues to nurture talent in the city.

2010 F.A.D. Competition Winner, Rasa Abramaviciute; F.A.D. Fashion Futures 2 Finalist, Aminata Kulufua interviewing finalist Rebecca Thomson

About the writer of this article...
Grace was a finalist in the 2008 F.A.D. Junior Awards. She is currently studying a foundation at Central Saint Martins and is starting a BA in Fashion & Marketing this September. In the future she would like to work as a fashion journalist or a designer.

Catwalk Photo Credits: Tony Wellington | www.tonywellington.co.uk
Thanks to F.A.D. Photographers: Kat Drury, Olga Glazik & Luci Wilden