The British Fashion Council (BFC), TOPSHOP and TOPMAN are delighted to announce two winners of the Graduate Design Programme, the latest 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 and Marianne Callaghan from Manchester School of Art who has won the TOPMAN prize.
The Graduate Design Programme offers the two students a prestigious 12 month paid internship at TOPSHOP and TOPMAN respectively. This is the second year TOPSHOP and TOPMAN have partnered with the British Fashion Council on a Graduate initiative and reinforces their on-going support of emerging talent.
Students were invited to submit a minimum of one mood board that demonstrates strong commercial awareness and understanding of the TOPSHOP or TOPMAN customer. From this mood board, applicants designed a 15 piece capsule collection that fully encapsulates their theme, showing key silhouettes, fabrics and colour choices.
A selection committee comprised of TOPSHOP or TOPMAN representatives invited applicants to a judging meeting to talk through their design project. The calibre of work was extremely high and a lengthy decision process was involved before the final decision on the winner was reached.
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, said “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.”
The winners were selected by a judging committee which included Anne Tyrrell MBE, Anne Tyrrell Designs; Clara Mercer British Fashion Council; Emma Farrow, TOPSHOP; Melanie Rowson, TOPSHOP; Nick Eley, TOPMAN and Susan Hewett, TOPMAN.
For more information, please visit www.britishfashioncouncil.com/collegescouncil
For BFC press enquiries, contact:
Sophie McElligott, +44(0)20 7759 1986
sophie.mcelligott@britishfashioncouncil.com
For TOPSHOP and TOPMAN enquiries, contact:
Clare Drummond / Kelly Reed
clare.drummond@topshop.com / kelly.reed@topman.com