Sophie Hallette names University Design Challenge winner

French lacemaker Sophie Hallette has named Kingston University fashion graduate Bianca Saunders as the winner of its University Design Challenge, which challenged graduates to include lace and tulle in their final year collections.

22 students from 11 top universities took part in the design competition, with Saunders scooping the 1,000 cash prize for her innovative collection, which bonded the lace together with organdie to give the garment structure and a crisp appearance.

The competition also named Rachael Eustance from Edinburgh College of Art as First Runner Up for her collection inspired by workwear that used the technique of puff bonding to give a more masculine, yet luxurious appeal. While Second Runner Up was awarded to Beth McCullum from Manchester School of Art for her menswear collection inspired by Chinese art and culture that layering several garments to create one look all of which used lace which had been embellished onto jersey.

The collections were judged by a panel of experts including Bruno Lescroart, president emeritus of Sophie Hallette, couturier Bruce Oldfield, and Oriole Cullen and Clare Browne, respected fashion and fabric curators at the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Commenting on the standard of the competition, Maud Lescroart, marketing director of Sophie Hallette, said: “It is interesting that many of the top design houses around the world look to the UK colleges for emerging talent to take their brand to the next level and to interact with the ever-changing consumer.

“Britain truly has a well-deserved reputation for irreverent creativity and innovation. We love innovation at Sophie Hallette, and we have not been disappointed. Some budding superstars are about to explode onto the fashion stage!”