BA Fashion graduate Emily Rose wins Arts of Fashion Competition 2021

The Arts of Fashion International Competition Awards were announced from Antwerp, with BA (Hons) Fashion graduate Emily Rose being the only winner from the UK.

Above: Emily’s garment concepts for the competition.

About the competition

The Arts of Fashion Foundation is a non-profit organisation focusing on bringing together emerging fashion designers across the world.

This year, the Foundation launched their 20th Anniversary competition encouraging students to submit designs around the theme ‘Momentum’.

Emily’s concept ‘No Hope Without Circles‘ explores momentum through circular form; from the Earth on its axis, to orbiting the constant sun.

Above: Emily’s work from her final graduating collection

The garments

“The collection I submitted to this competition is parallel to my graduate collection,” said Emily. “The summer after graduating, NUA gave me extended access to the studios so I had time and the equipment to make these garments.”

One condition of entering the competition was that garments must look exactly as they had been illustrated in the initial ideas stage.

“I had designed some quite challenging silhouettes, therefore it required a lot of problem solving to achieve these. The technicians were amazing at making great suggestions which helped a lot!” said Emily.

To create the garments, Emily used a combination of techniques and equipment. For instance, hand painting fabrics in the textiles studio, and working with welding in the 3D workshops to form structural elements.

Additionally, Emily used traditional fashion skills such as pattern cutting, draping and sewing the final garments.

The Prize

Winners of the Apprenticeship Award obtain a month-long studio apprenticeship. Emily will be working with Maison Lemarié, one of the design studios at Les Métiers d’Art of CHANEL.

You can watch the final Arts of Fashion Competition 2021 Awards Film on their Website and YouTube.

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