THE BRIEF

For 2011 F.A.D. invites you to make your Escape.

Escape from the everyday into a place of wonder and distraction. Retreat to a physical or fictional place that holds personal meaning for you.

Design two complementary outfits which express your notions of Escape. Use form, colour and texture inspired by your escapist vision.

Your chosen destination of Escape could be real, imagined, or somewhere in between. You may incorporate physical references, looking to environments, constructions and spaces for inspiration. Or perhaps you will be inspired by illusion, humour and the ‘magically real’ to create garments where things aren’t quite as they seem.

You may decide to include the following ideas within your two designs:

+ Use of unexpected materials and processes
+ Magical, illusionary methods of construction
+ Playful scale
+ Inventive, witty details
+ Colours collated from your escapist environment

HOW TO ENTER

Download the complete F.A.D. Competition Guidelines here

Eligibility

Participants must be 2nd or 3rd (final) year BA, or MA, students studying Fashion at a UK Higher Education Institution. There is no age restriction.

Each institution is permitted a maximum of three entries from BA courses and three from MA courses.

Please note Students who have previously taken part in F.A.D. Fashion Futures programmes may send their entries directly to F.A.D. These entries are in addition to institutions’ quota of three entries and will be considered equally alongside other entries received.

THE FINALISTS

Annie Vallis | Nottingham Trent University

Annie's modern day explorer menswear entry 'Stranger than Fiction'

Ester Ndongala | University of Salford

Ester's womenswear entry 'Together by Default'

THE CATWALK FINAL

Written by Chris Prince, 2009 Fashion Futures 2 Student
Photo Credits: www.tonywellington.co.uk

The 2011 FAD Competition at Vauxhall Fashion Scout showcased a spectacular parade of innovative design from up-and-coming talent. A plethora of creativity pioneered a glimpse of future design aesthetics for the new decade.

2011 FAD Competition winner, Milly Jackson, takes to the catwalk with her designs inspired by the novel 'Life of Pi'

This year FAD marked its 10th anniversary by introducing fifteen finalists during London Fashion Week. The brief; ‘to escape from the everyday into a place of wonder and distraction’. Entrants had to conjure a mini collection of two designs that would be coherent to the given theme of ‘escapism’ with the winner receiving £2000 and an industry placement at a top fashion company. Two runner-ups would also receive £1000 and a placement.

‘Life of Pi’ Fashion Scoops Top Prize

Milly Jackson, Nottingham Trent University, with her winning designs

Milly Jackson, 24, winner of this year’s prestigious award was touted as a favourite from the get-go. Inspired by the characters in Yann Martel’s novel ‘ Life of Pi’, her collection featured wondrously exaggerated silhouettes in chunky felt, brushed silk and velvet. Looking shy and reserved as she collected the top prize of £2000, the Nottingham Trent student was presented with her placement by Whistles CEO, Jane Shepardson who described the show as ‘the most exciting she had seen this week’.

First runner-up was another strong debut for womenswear, as Laura Carew-Gibson, 22, from DeMonfort University introduced sunset hues to the catwalk. Fringing was ubiquitous throughout with sheepskin and mohair mix jackets and palm tree chinos inspired by the culture and landscape of 80’s LA. Laura collected her £1000 prize along with a placement with former FAD finalist, David Koma.

Runner-up Laura-Carew Gibson, DeMontfort University, with her LA 'Tropicana' inspired womenswear

Menswear from FAD runner-up Annie Vallis, Nottingham Trent University

Annie Vallis, 22, snagged the second runner-up award and a menswear placement at Jaeger. She opened the show with cool, graphic menswear. The student from Nottingham Trent University created printed cape shirts with innovative rucksack inserts. Hues of russet and stone were manipulated between ‘otherworldly’ prints inspired by Jean Painlevé’s nature documentaries. The second garment showcased a beautifully cut, sheer belted parka, buckled and utilitarian. It was a perfect showcase of menswear ingenuity.

The lovely ladies from TheMuse.TV go behind the scenes at the 2011 FAD Competition Final. Watch the latest episode here!

www.themuse.tv

If you missed the 2011 FAD Competition final, see the complete catwalk show by clicking on the screen below: