As Croatia prepares to enter the European Union in July 2013, the FAD Youth Forum is getting ready to welcome a group of 20 young people from Croatia coming to discover the wealth of culture in London and to exchange creative ideas.
]]> During 14 days, the young people will exchange ideas and share in their creative common interests. Their programme will include exploring the City of London to find inspiration from the different street style trends and cultures, creative customising workshops, tips for styling and a proper photoshoot.The London Croatia Creative Exchange is an initiative funded by Youth in Action.
Thanks to our gifted student photographers Kat, India and Eleanor for capturing these amazing behind the scenes shots from the 2013 FAD Competition final!
PHOTO CREDITS:
Kat Drury | katerinadrury.com
Eleanor Byrd | eleanorbyrdphotography.com
India Phillips | indiaphillipsphotography.com
This innovative competition has been made possible thanks to the support and funding of Youth in Action.
CYCLING FASHION TRIUMPHS AT 2013 FAD COMPETITION FINAL
15 talented undergraduates from universities across the UK brought London Fashion Week to an electrifying close at the 2013 FAD Competition final, held at Fashion Scout in Covent Garden.
Inspired by the FAD brief – Future Optimism – the finalists presented an eclectic display of optimistic design solutions for the next decade. Stephanie Kitchen, 21, a final year fashion student at Bath Spa University was announced as the 2013 FAD Competition winner, taking to the catwalk to receive her £1,000 prize and top industry placement from the FAD jury panel.
2013 FAD Competition Winner Stephanie Kitchen with her designs
Receiving a unanimous vote, Stephanie’s innovative cycle wear collection was described by judge and respected fashion journalist Hilary Alexander as:
“Outstanding in concept, inspiration, execution and creativity - with an extremely high degree of sustainability, wearability and commercial appeal. It was eye-catching, functional, fun and accompanied with fabulous accessories which looked to the future in an original eco-manner.”
]]> An avid cyclist herself, it was Stephanie’s passion for the sport and attention to detail which won her the top prize. Her protective and fashionable pieces also reflect a real understanding of a cyclist’s practical needs.
Stephanie Kitchen's winning outfits on the catwalk; Stephanie's designs illustrated by Milly Jackson for FAD.
Splatter print Lycra trousers made from 3D spacer shock absorbing fabric feature built in knee pads, while cleverly layered tops sport innovative air vents and pockets all trimmed in ultra reflective details. 3D printed goggles and zips in the shape of bicycles add a fun touch, while panniers which convert to handbags contain solar panels for charging phones and other devices while on two wheel commute.
Talking about the inspiration behind her winning collection Stephanie said:
“When first seeing the brief, I have to say I loved it. I felt that it really struck on beliefs that I hold close as a designer; the idea that clothing should be user-centric and enhance living, and that above all else, functionality and style should work together in fashion design.
I wanted to include key developments that I think will be at the forefront of design in the next 10 years. For example, the increased drive for sustainability means that the use of recycled materials could be increasingly important in fashion. In the collection, I represented this with the use of recycled bicycle inner tube as straps and waist bands. I also wanted to use modern manufacturing techniques in the collection, so made 3D printed goggles.”
Runner-up Stephanos Konstantiou on the catwalk with his collection
Two runner-up awards were also announced on the night each receiving £500 and a placement in industry. For Stephanos Konstantiou, 23, from Nottingham Trent University, Future Optimism represents a new interpretation of minimalism in fashion. He wowed the jury with a collection of lazer cut and etched neoprene dresses featuring cut out collars, buttons and houndstooth check.
When asked why he entered the FAD Competition Stephanos commented: “I entered the competition because of its acknowledgement by the fashion industry as well as the brief gave us an artistic freedom to push our design boundaries.”
Runner-up Nneka Okorie and her striking menswear entry
In contrast University of Salford runner-up, Nneka Okorie, 22, presented a visually bold and uplifting menswear collection which included a sunset print trench coat in vivid shades of purple and red and midnight black cityscape print trousers. The menswear runner-up was overwhelmed at the decision:
“When my name was announced I felt excited and relieved. Everyone wants so much to win so hearing my name called out made all the hard work worth it. It’s a great honour.“
The talented 15 were selected from over 100 entries submitted to FAD this year. The brief ‘Future Optimism’ challenged students to ‘look forward and explore’. Stating ‘design has the potential to offer positive and creative solutions, it asked entrants to ‘envisage a key development or change taking place in the next ten years, and design two outfits which respond to it.’
This is the twelfth year that creative charity FAD has run this innovative competition with the aim of challenging fashion students to think outside the commercial box, encouraging them to look to art, culture and wider social trends in their research and design work.
Named as ‘one to watch’ by Hilary Alexander, Stephanie Kitchen’s designs will feature on the London catwalk again from Thursday 21st – Sunday 24th February 2013 as part of London Fashion Weekend organised by The British Fashion Council and sponsored by Vodafone.
PHOTO CREDITS
Catwalk: Tony Wellington for FAD | www.bitemag.com
Others: Eleanor Byrd & India Phillips
This innovative competition has been made possible thanks to the contribution of many young people, and the support and funding of Youth in Action.
WATCH THE 2013 FAD COMPETITION FINAL! or scroll down to see photos of the finalist's collections.
This innovative competition has been made possible thanks to the support and funding of Youth in Action.
2013 FAD COMPETITION JURY
A massive thank you to this year's 2013 FAD Competition jury panel:
Hilary Alexander
Former Fashion Director at The Telegraph
Martyn Roberts
Director, Fashion Scout
Geraldine O'Brien
Head of Design Development, Topshop/Topman
Claire Muldoon
FAD Trustee, Writer & Broadcaster
Milly Jackson
Fashion Illustrator & 2011 FAD Competition Winner
This innovative competition has been made possible thanks to the support and funding of Youth in Action.
2013 FAD COMPETITION FINALISTS
Fifteen talented finalists from twelve UK colleges and universities have been selected for the 2013 FAD Competition final at Vauxhall Fashion Scout in February 2013.
From a shortage of raw materials and climate change to social depression, lack of physical space and wasteful production - our clever finalists have come up with many 'optimistic' and fashionable solutions to the positive and not so positive changes that are predicted to emerge over the next 10 years.
View their entries and read more about their concepts below.
]]> Joseph Horton | Nottingham Trent University
“The more efficient it becomes, the more it looks like nature.” – Jason Silva: To Understand is to Perceive Patterns
“I am interested in the concept of Bio mimicry. Human issues can be solved by developing technologies which replicate or take inspiration from nature. I aim for maximum sustainability in my collection; rubber is recycled and natural components are used where possible.
Silhouettes in my collection became rounded and domed to create the illusion that water could run straight off the surface, based on the lotus effect. Textiles are sharp, layered and regular but streamlined, inspired by sharkskin.“
Chelsey Crossland | Sheffield Hallam University
“The key change in 10 years will be the shortage of raw materials the impact of climate change from waste products. Every year 11,000,000 tons of clothing and waste fabric and footwear are thrown away unnecessarily. My collection ‘A Home at the End of the World’ uses existing garments and remnant fabrics to create something new and wearable, give a garment a new lease of life.”
Kimberley Phillips | DeMontfort University
“In today’s current climate, the future doesn't look bright and it doesn't look positive for many people. I wanted to create a collection that would put a smile on people’s faces in the gloomiest of times. I looked at the future idea of animal cloning and interbreeding, combining different parts of garments to achieve the best features and using simple animal outlines to create panels and silhouettes in bright effeminate hues.”
Laura Chittenden | Manchester Metropolitan University
"The Knitted Olympics: From the handicrafts of the Amazon, to the street football in Rio, Brazil is the future. The Knitted Olympics is a celebration of the richly diverse country and the bright future it is facing. With the apparel industry producing an overwhelming amount of waste, the future of fashion needs to be one which is much more sustainable for our planet. The Knitted Olympics brings back the concept of individual, handmade pieces in hope for a future away from throwaway fashion."
Nneka Okorie | University of Salford
“My answer to the advancements and social changes of society in 10 years’ time is having clothes that are so visually bold and uplifting the mind is transported somewhere else; I’m offering a door to escape through.”
Aysha Simpson | DeMontfort University
"My journey towards future optimism began planning for a more sustainable future, playing with the idea of recycled clothing and exploring structures that have been produced by artists such as Derick Melander.
Perhaps in 10 years the traditional aspects of clothing will be deformed. Shirt collars may no longer be restricted to the neck; garments may hang and interact with each other to distort our traditional perceptions of them. I kept in mind the versatility and multi-function or future living. Both of my outfits are multifunctional. The interchangeable and interactive nature of my garments make them both functional and future ready."
Stephanos Konstantinou | Nottingham Trent University
“To me Future Optimism represents a new interpretation of minimalism in fashion. Innovative use of technology will allow substantial reductions in manufacturing processes, whilst a reminder of traditional forms is retained in illusory detail.”
Estela Nevinskaite | University of East London
“My inspiration lies with a perception of increased stress and depression in the 21st Century. Clothes are our second skin and dress performs many functions in relation to our body: it can hide and protect us, make us feel safe and warm. But can our clothes calm us down? This question has inspired me to design clothes that could help people relax, inspired by how the soothing scent of lavender travel through our body and our breathing structure.”
Lucinda Roberts | University of The Creative Arts
"Future Optimism: Minimal, Simple, Longevity, Practicality. My collection has been designed with these words in mind. Design ideas and details take from minimalist architecture, taking ideas of positive and negative spaces to add to design, but also to functionality."
Anna Kim | Instituto Marangoni
Unknown: Hey! U good? Tell me about the future! How does it feel? Have you met your future self yet?
Anna Kim: The world feels absolutely foreign to me! It’s amazing seeing how much the world can change in 20 years, there’s so much colour around.
Unknown: Colour? What do you mean?
Anna Kim: There is no litter on the streets, cars run on solar energy and vegetation seems to be everywhere. Even now I’m using this free laptop that’s attached to a desk that appears to be grown from a tree. It’s crazy! I finally believe our future is something to look forward to...
Matthew O'Brien | Liverpool John Moores University
“I was inspired by human interaction with social spaces and aspects of the environment, for example when a person is hot they open a window. I wanted to investigate how a garment can react in a similar way in response to the environment of the wearer. So I utilised my technological skills and knowledge, and background in electronics to come up with a moving garment collection.“
Morwenna Darwell | Edinburgh College of Art
“Fast Fashion, throw away culture, environmentally damaging textiles production methods....in the next 10 years this will all continue and more and more people will find it unacceptable and will look for other alternatives. The aim of my collection is to bring colour, life and HAPPYNESS not only to the wearer but those surrounding them. My garments have been produced from natural cotton which has not been bleached or coloured. Waste and discarded plastics from several sources have been layered on top to create colour, depth and beauty.”
Robert Mills | Manchester School of Art
"My collection shows off the survival of the stylish. The collection consists of elements that are key for survival when out of the earth’s atmosphere. My collection supplies the woman with all the essentials of living in the future with minimum of earth air left."
Louis Alderson-Bythell | Edinburgh College of Art
"My collection is about a sudden re-emergence of lost energy. Energy which is trying to re-assert itself. The forms are smooth and fluid, morphing around the body. Silica cloth is manipulated using high energy techniques through the kiln with molten glass to create burnished patterns."
Stephanie Kitchen | Bath Spa University
"When I see an adult on a bike, I do not despair for the future of the human race." – H.G. Wells.
"Cycling has grown in the past few years and according to Transport for London, the cycling revolution is predicted to increase a further 400% by 2026. Cycling benefits our health, fitness and well being. It is also economic and environmentally friendly."
This innovative competition has been made possible thanks to the support and funding of Youth in Action.
The 2013 FAD Competition Catwalk Final
The final show will take place at Vauxhall Fashion Scout during London Fashion Week in February 2013, giving students a unique opportunity to showcase their designs as part of the UK’s most prestigious fashion event.
Prizes
First prize: £1,000 and a work placement.
Two runners-up: £500 each and a work placement.
Eligibility
Participants must be 2nd or 3rd year BA, or MA, students studying Fashion at a UK Higher Education Institution.
Each institution is permitted a maximum of three entries from BA courses and three from MA courses.
Students who have previously taken part in FAD Fashion Futures programmes may send their entries directly to FAD. These entries are in addition to the institutions’ quota of three entries and will be considered equally alongside other entries received.
Registration of interest
Tutors should register their institutions for entry by e-mail to reyes@fad.org.uk by Friday 12th October 2012. There is no registration fee.
Submissions
Please note the new format for submission. Each entry must include the following:
1) On CD, DVD or USB;
Research: An edited selection of your research and development (a maximum of 20 items - images, video or audio files) including:
• a summary of your research: e.g sketchbook pages, moodboards, photographs
• design development
• evidence of planned construction techniques
Illustrations: Two creative fashion illustrations (one of each outfit)
2) On paper:
• Completed student entry form
• 2 technical drawings (one for each outfit, showing front and back) including swatches.
• Written interpretation of mini collection (max. 200 words)
Please send entries by post to FAD, 10a Wellesley Terrace, London N1 7NA. We regret that entries cannot be returned.
Deadline: Wednesday 28th November 2012
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2013 FAD COMPETITION BRIEF: Future Optimism
In 2012 FAD celebrated the legacy of 10 years of the FAD Competition. For 2013 we challenge you: what comes next?
We live in difficult times – yet social, economic and environmental constraints spark innovation. Collaboration between design and science leads to exciting new hi-tech possibilities, whilst some of the most innovative solutions are born from scarcity of means and resources. Ingenuity is what they have in common.
Look forward and explore: design has the potential to offer positive and creative solutions, and to address the needs of individuals and society in the next decade.
What will the future be about? How will living evolve? How can fashion help us live well – as an individual or as a whole society?
Envisage a key development or change taking place in the next ten years, and design two outfits which respond to it. Create people-centred design that enhances our way of living. Consider the moral and ethical choices to be made. Balance the practical and the beautiful, the sensory and the intellectual; be innovative and resourceful.
You can incorporate one, some or none of the following concepts into your designs:
• Taking advantage of technology
• Transformation, multifunction
• Long-term thinking: life-cycle, resilience and sustainability
• Personal health, happiness, fulfilment
• The wearer’s relationship with their surroundings, with society, with others
• Designing across disciplines
Download 2013 FAD Competition Pack here
© FAD 2012
2013 FAD COMPETITION BRIEF: Future Optimism
In 2012 FAD celebrated the legacy of 10 years of the FAD Competition. For 2013 we challenge you: what comes next?
We live in difficult times – yet social, economic and environmental constraints spark innovation. Collaboration between design and science leads to exciting new hi-tech possibilities, whilst some of the most innovative solutions are born from scarcity of means and resources. Ingenuity is what they have in common.
Look forward and explore: design has the potential to offer positive and creative solutions, and to address the needs of individuals and society in the next decade.
What will the future be about? How will living evolve? How can fashion help us live well – as an individual or as a whole society?
]]>If you are a teacher who would like to host an FAD Fashion Bee workshop in your school please contact Reyes Lora - reyes@fad.org.uk.
To request an application pack please contact Reyes Lora:
E: reyes@fad.org.uk
T: 020 7490 3946
This July FAD were very excited to be partnered with Wallis and The Fashion Retail Academy to present ‘Fashion Active’: a week of hands on workshops and creative careers advice for 15 year olds.
“I think the course was amazing – thank you for such an incredible experience! I have learnt a lot about fashion and many techniques to use in fashion. I have learned about the real world and how things work in the fashion industry from the volunteers at Wallis.” Rasmiya, 15 (Greenwich)
Thirty five young people from the boroughs of Greenwich, Lambeth, Camden and Islington took part in five days of activities with the FAD team and specialist volunteers from the Wallis design, production and HR departments. Inspired by the London Olympics, the teenagers were set the challenge to design and make a complete outfit from scratch – from customising t-shirts and trainers, to pattern cutting skirts, hoodies and shorts.
The last day ended in a professional photoshoot and catwalk show, styled by the Wallis volunteers.
Thanks again to Wallis, and especially to Design Director Jo Collins, for making this project possible. Thanks also for the support of the Fashion Retail Academy and to all the industry volunteers who took part in the project.
See more photos and read more about ‘Fashion Active’ on our blog.
“I really enjoyed meeting so many people with first hand experience of the fashion industry. Career wise the volunteers really helped me, I feel inspired to get the ball rolling.” Rosa, 15 (Lambeth)
“The careers afternoon with Wallis helped me to know what steps to take next and how to make myself stand out from other aspiring designers.” Becky, 15 (Greenwich)
This summer in celebration of the UK Olympics, FAD will be running 'Fashion Active' Projects with 14-15 year olds (Year 10) in London and Salford.
Please note there is a reduced cost involved to take part in this five day practical course. For more information or to request an application pack please contact Reyes Lora at FAD:
E: reyes@fad.org.uk
T: 020 7490 3946
2013 FASHION FUTURES FINALISTS: SOUTH LONDON
Beau Scarlett-Pitt, 17
Langley Park School in Bromley
Tihara Smith, 16
La Retraite School in Lambeth
Gloria Iyare, 18
LeSoCo in Lewisham
Nhung Le Thi Hong, 16
LeSoCo in Lewisham
Sarah Simpson, 18
Croydon College
Anas Lachgar, 17
Saint Francis Xavier 6th Form in Wandsworth
Naomi Brady, 17
Saint Francis Xavier 6th Form in Wandsworth
Nell Downes, 17
Prendergast Hilly Fields College in Lewisham
Hannah Tasane, 17
Prendergast Hilly Fields College in Lewisham
2013 FASHION FUTURES FINALISTS: NORTH LONDON
Olivia Till, 17
Barking & Dagenham College
Claudia Teixeira-Ferreira, 17
Clapton Girls' Academy in Hackney
Lily Southin, 16
Raine's Foundation in Tower Hamlets
Molly Camara, 17
Maria Fidelis School in Camden
Rochelle Nicholas-Bastien, 16
St. Angela's Ursuline School in Newham
Melissa Absalud Allada, 16
St. Angela's Ursuline School in Newham
Zahra Khatouli, 17
Le SWAP in Camden
Migena Kola, 17
St. Valentines High School in Redbridge
Rebecca George, 17
City & Islington 6th Form College
Yosana De Ceita Rodrigues Leal, 17
Winchmore School in Enfield
Congratulations to 2012 FAD Junior Awards winner, Serife Nyazi, 17, from Lewisham!
Read the full show report from FAD roving reporter, Randa Alvarez, on our blog.
Watch the 2012 FAD Junior Awards on The MUSE.TV
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