FAD FASHION FUTURES 2 COMPETITION
With the support of Edge and George at Asda

Teenage Talent Hits Asda
Schoolgirl’s Design for Little Black Dress on sale
9th November 2005

Annie Skipper a 17 year-old schoolgirl, won first prize when she created a stunning black party dress to be sold under Asda's popular George Label. Sophie Clinch, ASDA's chief buyer said: "This dress has an excellent finish, is very pretty, and will be easy to make and easy to sell".

Annie, who came first among 14 finalists, said: "If I could choose anyone in the world to wear my black satin trimmed dress, it would have to be Cameron Diaz at a film premiere." Annie also wins a two-week work placement with ASDA design studios, with all expenses paid.

Annie's dress will be displayed on a catwalk during an Evening of Elegance on September 29th at the Textile Museum in London, when judges will also announce the names of three other finalists who have earned a special mention.

Though Annie is the overall winner, judges have decided to award a special mention to three other finalists, notably Dhurata Rexhepi, a 21-year-old student from Kosovo. Judges praised the craftsmanship of Dhurata's design, a strapless dress with a pretty crochet silk jacket in beige-gold.

Debbie Annan of London, 17, also receives a special mention for the quality of her creative research. The youngest finalist Alexandra Achille, also 17, was given a special mention by the judges who were impressed by the creativity of her dress featuring panels of intricate knotted silk.

Rachel Fergus from Edge said: "Edge is delighted to have sponsored Fashion Futures 2. The standard of entries did real justice to the students' talent and hard work. It was very tough choosing a winner. But having described Annie’s dress to the other people in Edge's office, they said we can’t wait for it to hit stores so we can have our own to wear!”

Reyes Lora, FAD Project Manager praised all the finalists “They had a great sense of achievement in carrying this project through from beginning to end, and I think they all got a great deal out of FF2 on a personal level."

Adrian Chapell of the Arts Learning Partnership comments "This is a real world project. I liked the commercial hard-edged aspect. This was a tough challenge and the students have shown what they can do."

Tessa from Arts AimHigher (The Arts Thematic Partnership) says: “This is an amazing opportunity for young people to work together and learn from each other. The project is bringing people from different cultures and different schools together and takes them into a different learning environment."

To receive more information regarding this project,
the announcement of winners on Thursday 29th September 05 at 6.30pm and press enquiries,

contact: Maria Alvarez,FAD,
Tel: 0870 751 4449
maria@fad.org.uk

Notes to editor:

1. The Competition was open to students at schools, colleges and 6th form Colleges in Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Redbridge, Dagenham & Barking, Havering, Haringey and Enfield.

2. The funding came from Edge and AimHigher (the Arts Thematic Partnership), with the collaboration of George at Asda, the Zandra Rhodes Fashion and Textile Museum, the Hackney Community College, and the London College of Fashion.

ABOUT FAD (www.fad.org.uk)

FAD, an independent educational association, runs fashion projects for young people that foster their creativity and give them a platform to showcase their talents to the industry.

FAD organizes national fashion competitions and workshops in local areas to promote fashion as a potential career to students and undergraduates, and to create links between educational institutes and experts working in the Fashion world.

ABOUT Edge (www.edge.co.uk)

Edge is a new charity that is campaigning for practical learning. Practical learning means learning by doing. This means learning for real, often on the job, from experts and practitioners. It is education and experience rolled into one.

A recent Edge-commissioned YouGov survey highlights some hard facts. Forty per cent of people feel that their existing job doesn't make the most of their strengths and abilities. Seventy-six percent think the education system puts too much emphasis on academic achievement at the expense of practical experience. This doesn't just damage the individual; it also harms our economic success.

Edge is working to improve practical learning in schools, colleges and the workplace, through a range of research, sponsorship and investment initiatives.