Topshop and Topman unveil Graduate Design Programme winners

Topshop and Topman, along with the British Fashion Council have announced the two winners of their Graduate Design Programme, an initiative supporting graduate talent, pioneered as a joint venture in partnership with the BFC Colleges Council.

The winners of the inaugural awards are Emilie Saunderson from the University of Westminster who has won the Topshop prize, while Marianne Callaghan from Manchester School of Art was awarded the Topman prize. Both students will now embark on a 12-month paid internship at Topshop and Topman respectively.

As part of the entry process, students were asked to submit one mood board that demonstrated strong commercial awareness and understanding of the Topshop and Topman customer, and then design a 15-piece capsule collection that fully encapsulated their theme, showing key silhouettes, fabrics and colour choices. The entries were then judged by a selection committee comprising of Topshop and Topman representatives, who invited applicants to a judging meeting to talk through their design project.

Topshop and Topman announce graduate design winners

Emma Farrow, design director of Topshop, said: “Topshop is very proud to partner with the British Fashion Council on The Graduate Design Programme for a second year running. Through this and our support of the NewGen initiative, we continue to invest in developing and nurturing young British design talent who are the future of fashion.

“During their time at Topshop, the winner will grow as a designer whilst gaining first-hand experience of the business and we look forward to welcoming them.”

Gordon Richardson, design director of Topman, added: “Topman has now been supporting emerging talent for over 10 years and is excited to be helping a new generation of talented designers start their careers through this initiative for the second year running as an integral part of the in-house Topman design team.”

This is the second year that Topshop and Topman have partnered with the British Fashion Council on a graduate initiative and is part of the retail group’s on-going support of emerging talent.

Image: Emilie Saunderson’s Topshop collection