A student from Bath Spa University has made it through to the final of a fashion competition that will see her work displayed at the upcoming London Fashion Week.
Third year BA Fashion Design student, Ashley Patterson is a finalist at this year’s Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD).
The competition sees students from universities across the UK come together to showcase their fashion creations and kick start their career within the design industry.
The brief for this year’s challenge was to design a mini-collection of two outfits, menswear or womenswear, exploring the theme of ‘physics meets fashion’.
Considered as the ‘must enter’ competition for all universities, FAD works in collaboration with Fashion Scout to provide a unique opportunity for undergraduate design students to showcase their work.
The competition has the support of retailers, designers, cultural industries, museums and the press.
The FAD competition is now in its 14th year where previous winners include acclaimed womenswear designer, David Koma and 2010 Graduate Fashion Week winner Rebecca Thomson.
Finalist, Ashley Patterson commented: “To be a finalist in the Fashion Awareness Direct competition is an absolute privilege and an excellent platform for students.
“FAD has given me the opportunity to stretch my creativity through design, and to see that come to life during London Fashion week is nothing but exhilarating!”
A total of 17 finalists were selected out of over 150 entries from 40 colleges and universities across the UK.
The finalists had until the end of January to create their fashion garments ready to showcase on the 2015 London Fashion Week catwalk where their entries will be judged by a panel of industry experts including Geraldine Cox, Physics Artist in Residence Imperial College and Fashion Features Editor at the Telegraph Magazine, Tamsin Blanchard.
Louise Pickles, Course Leader and Coordinator of Fashion at Bath Spa, added: “We are of course thrilled to have another student from Bath in the Fashion Awareness Direct design competition final, showcasing their work on the catwalk during London Fashion Week.
“Ashley becomes the sixth student from the course to reach the final of this prestigious competition and we wish her the very best of luck in the final.”
Ashley’s nomination builds on the success of previous Bath Spa University Fashion Design students at this competition. In 2014 Benjamin Callery took second place, with fellow student Petulia Galvin also nominated in the final.
In 2013 Stephanie Kitchen won the competition and she is now a Designer at Penfield in London.
The competition will see the overall winner win £1000 and a top fashion industry placement and the two runners-up will receive £500 each.
All of the winners will receive a free graduate collection photo shoot to enhance their portfolio and get them one step closer to a professional career.
The FAD winner will be announced on Tuesday 24th February as part of London Fashion Week.