This, the prize-giving ceremony, was the final part of the FAD FF2 scheme. In just under a week, under expert tutelage at the London College of Fashion, each finalist had created a dress, moodboard and workbook reflecting their inspiration for the perfect �LBD�.

You might have expected 15 identikit dresses � I mean how exciting is black? But each finalist gave the brief an utterly personal, unique twist - each dress shown was radically different from the others.

We saw LBD�s with feathers, and LBD�s in lace, LBD�s with a �musical� feel (Chicago) or a dash of Hollywood glamour, LBD�s with �faux fur�, with silk knots, with velvety trim or just plain� The variety was simply dazzling.

FF2 winner Annie Skipper was chosen for her stunning silver-trim party dress, with silver straps. �This dress has an excellent finish, is very pretty, and will be easy to make and easy to sell � said Sophia Clinch from ASDA, one of the judges. Annie�s prize? Seeing her dress made and sold by the George Label at ASDA plus a two-week work placement in ASDA�s George Label design studios.

How does it feel to win FAD asked? �A shock� Annie replied. �To be honest the more I saw the other dresses the more I was sure the winner wouldn�t be me.�

Another surprised entrant was Dhurata Rexhepi whose unusual design � a strapless model with a sleeveless crochet jacket � was commended by the judges for its craftmanship. �I really didn�t expect this,� confessed Dhurata, age 21, originally from Kosovo, who has just started her foundation course at the London College of Fashion.

There were two other runners-up, Debbie Allan, singled out for the depth and quality of her creative research, and FAD Futures 2 youngest finalist 17-year-old Alexandra Achilles. The judges praised Alexandra�s originality and awarded her, like Annie, a work placement with the George design team at ASDA.

�I was a bit surprised,� she told FAD. �But I was sort of proud of myself too because this was the first garment I�d ever made.�
All in all a dazzling start to a new FAD scheme that is bound to be the source of much new talent in the future.