20 finalists from 13 colleges and universities selected as finalists will present their collections on a catwalk, followed by the announcement of the winners and a Reception

The brief challenges the entrants for the 6th FAD Competition to embark on a visual journey to ancient Egypt and become ‘fashion archaeologists’, exploring and excavating its craftsmanship, symbolism and techniques.

Close your eyes and think of Egypt: the aromas of the great bazaars of Cairo, the magnificent pyramids of Giza, the gilded tombs of Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings….

The students were asked to reflect all of this in two outfits: "Charm", consisting of fabrics ‘lashed’ together, concealing ‘objets trouvés’: jewels, and amulets, and “Geometric”, a piece of clothing triangular and geometric in shape which ‘protects’ the body and imitates the ‘building-wrap’ sculptures of Christo and Jean-Claude.




The results, to judge by the students’ workbooks, will be stunning. Think strings of coins jangling under layers of multi-coloured clothing, or eye-catching dresses composed of panels of fabric in alternating colours, copper, greens, and gold, with jagged 'pyramid hems' or hidden pouches stuffed with amulets, lockets and secrets..

Louise de Caires, FAD’s creative director said: "As each new generation comes through art/fashion school the edges blur between the disciplines, and the interpretation is linked more closely to uncovering and dissecting the elements of the brief and researching a particular artist. This translates into amazing textile experimentation, for students who refuse to buy "over the counter" fabrics but try to reinvent the original looking closely at how to achieve this through processes like burying raw cloth in sand, magnifying a corner of rug and producing a painting. The art element in fashion is here to stay!"

To apply for tickets email us on info@fad.org.uk