New opportunity for Young Accessory Designers

The Fashion and Textile Museum are still looking for young accessory designers for the new competition ‘Young Accessory Designer of the Year’ that they have launched in partnership with Clothes Show London, at

Earls Court

25-27 June 2010.

Continuing Clothes Show London’s commitment to nurturing and developing young talent in the creative arts, they are organising a competition to find the Young Accessory Designer of the Year in partnership with The Fashion and Textile Museum (FTM). The competition is open to aspiring designers who have been trading for fewer than three years, providing a platform for young designers and their businesses in this highly competitive industry.

The prestigious new award in partnership with the FTM, challenges designers to create an accessory product that encompasses the FTM’s brand values and is suitable for sale in the FTM’s shop (Shop@FTM) and the FTM’s online boutique. The winner will also receive the once-in-a-lifetime chance to receive six months business support with industry advisors to help set up and develop their business and make it sustainable. Their winning design will be displayed at Clothes Show London and may go on to be launched and sold in the Shop@FTM. In addition, the victor will be invited to the Private View of the forthcoming Horrockses Fashions: Off the Peg style of the 40’s and 50’s exhibition and will be offered a place on FTM’s professional CAD short course.

All entries will be judged by FTM’s Commercial Director, Alison Lewy and Managing Director of Clothes Show London, Gavin Brown. The winner will be announced at an impressive awards ceremony in Clothes Show London’s spectacular Fashion Theatre at London’s

Earls Court

on Saturday 26th June.

Alison Lewy, FTM’s Commercial Director, welcomes this opportunity to support aspiring design talent in this way: “FTM is thrilled to be working in partnership with Clothes Show London to launch this new competition which reflects the ethos of the museum to support young design talent. The winner will have a unique opportunity to receive a package of high-level, professional industry led support from the FTM to ensure the on-going development of their business, as well as exposure for their brand.”

Gavin Brown, Managing Director of Clothes Show London, explains the thinking behind this new exciting award: “Clothes Show London intends to develop a variety of initiatives to help develop new talent. The launch of Young Accessory Designer of The Year in association with the Fashion and Textile Museum is the latest in our schedule of planned activity and will be followed by other projects to encourage creativity.”

Young Accessory Designer of the Year in partnership with The Fashion and Textile Museum

The Prize

The winner will have the opportunity to receive the following:

• To showcase their product at Clothes Show London

• To launch and sell the winning product in the Shop@FTM

• Six months business support with industry advisors to help grow their business and make it sustainable

• To attend a professional CAD short course

• Invitation to the Private View of the forthcoming Horrockses Fashion exhibition

Timings

Deadline for Entries

·         15^th April 2010

Three Finalists Notified

• 30th April 2010

Winner announcement at Clothes Show London

• 26th June 2010

Entrants

• Open to designers who have been trading for fewer than three years in the UK

• To enter the award, entrants must visit www.clothesshowlondon.com to download an application form