British Fashion Council announces graduate awards

The British Fashion Council (BFC) announced the 2019 BA and MA scholars, along with four competition winners, at its annual Colleges Council Graduate Preview Day, which gives the industry first-hand access to the portfolios of this year’s graduating fashion design students as well as an opportunity to meet the course leaders of 21 top fashion institutions in the UK.

The BFC Education Foundation named five BA scholars graduating this summer: Andrea Mayer - womenswear at Central Saint Martins; Ben Sumpter - fashion design with knitwear at Central Saint Martins; Jonathon Kidd - womenswear at Central Saint Martins; Melissa Eakin - fashion design at University of Westminster; and Rosie Baird specialises in Fashion at Edinburgh College of Art.

While the 2019 MA scholars were announced as: Annie Vallis - menswear at University of Westminster; Harriet Crowther - menswear at University of Westminster; Maja Leskovsek - womenswear at Central Saint Martins; Morgane Krischer - menswear at Westminster University; Sara Kiani - womenswear at Central St Martins; Shaun Harris - womenswear at Royal College of Art; and Uta Sienkiewicz s- fashion textiles at Central Saint Martins.

BFC names Education Foundation BA and MA Scholars

In addition, there were four competition winners announced: Andrew Froud from the University of Brighton and Victoria Lyons from Kingston School of Art, were named the British Library x Nabil Nayal research winners. They will share a prize of 3,000 pounds along with a year-long membership to the British Library.

Edinburgh College of Art’s Brian McLysaght was named the Piñatex x Richard Malone sustainability competition winner and was awarded 5 metres of Piñatex textile to contribute to the production of his submitted line-up. Runner up Maria Streang from the Arts University Bournemouth was also awarded 3 metres of Piñatex textile.

The Givenchy fashion design competition was won by Paige Leach from the University of South Wales, who will receive a 6-month paid internship at the Givenchy Studios in Paris.

While the WGSN Portfolio Commendation Award was given to Birmingham University and Edinburgh College of Art, whose portfolios display showcased “outstanding strengths” by the judges at Graduate Preview Day. The winners receive a one-year subscription for their best student to WGSN.

In a statement, the British Fashion Council said that all recipients and winners were chosen for their “ability and potential to make an exceptional contribution to the British fashion industry”.

Images: courtesy of British Fashion Council