Fashion Fringe shoe winner

Debuting this year, Fashion Fringe announced the winner of the first Fashion Fringe Shoes initiative. Liam Fahy was chosen by a panel of judges, including Paula Reed Style Director of Grazia, Sebastian Manes Director of Accessories at Selfridges, shoe designer Rupert Sanderson and chaired by Manolo Blahnik, Liam was picked from the six finalists.

Liam graduated from De Montfort University and he has already won the Lineapelle Design Award plus the Drapers Footwear Designer of the Year Award. On winning the award Liam commented: “This is such an incredible opportunity for any young shoe designer, and it has only just sunk in that I have won. It was also a rather mind-blowing experience to be in the presence of the panel, and I am really looking forward to starting my apprenticeship”.

From July, he will be working alongside Rupert Sanderson for a 6-10 month salaried working apprenticeship within his company, which will include a month living in Italy and working at his factory. The programme has been designed to provide the winner with intensive exposure to all aspects of the luxury shoe business from design and development, to dealing with the press and wholesale account management.

Fashion Fringe was setup in 2004 to re-invigorate the fashion industry in Britain. The creative brainchild of fashion journalist Colin McDowell and international company IMG, Fashion Fringe has launched six new womenswear designers since 2004 including Basso&Brook and Erdem.