Renown for being a charity supporting aspiring designers, Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD) has been empowering young talent and ‘bridging the gap between education and industry’ for 10 years.

Each year 15 finalists show at LFW, competing for work placements with esteemed designers such as Paul Costelloe and Margaret Howell, with the winner and two runners-up receiving cash prizes. Past winners and runners-up have included Rasa Abramaviciute who won 6 months with Vivienne Westwood, and Vera Thordardottir who has dressed the likes of Lady Gaga!

To celebrate the charity’s 10 year anniversary, FAD invited us to preview the illustrations of the entries to be showcased at LFW from their 15 finalists. This year, FAD asked them to design 2 outfits with the theme being ‘Escape’. We had a quick chat with each designer to find out a bit more…

The FAD finalists will be showing at VFS on 22nd February at 7.30pm.

Name: Annie Vallis

University: Nottingham Trent University

How do you escape from everyday life?

Watching any David Attenborough nature documentary. No, really!

Tell us about your collection and what inspired it.

My collection is called ‘Stranger than Fiction’ and I have drawn inspiration from

Noemie Goudal’s alternative landscapes and the magical realism captured in Jean Painlevé’s surreal nature documentaries, merging art and science. Inspired by nature’s form and function, I have used biomorphic and organic forms, marrying loosely structured sartorial silhouettes with chaotic digital prints.

What’s next for you?

Finishing my degree and setting up a menswear label ‘OHAV‘

Name: Emma Clifton

University: Edinburgh College of Art

Tell us about your collection and the place that inspired it.

For me it wasn’t so much a place to escape to, but more creatures to escape from. To me these

monsters were a manifestation of my doubt, or the things within myself that can lead to self-sabotage.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

If you actually do something rather talking about doing it, you will be much more productive and happy.

Name: Ashleigh Downer

University: London College of Fashion

How do you escape from everyday life?

Everyday is when something becomes safe and predictable. I find that to do something that scares you, pushes the boundaries of your comfort zone thus allowing you to escape.

Tell us about your collection and what inspired it.

‘Charbatia 1946′ was originally derived through a nostalgic process. By looking at the past life of my granddad and his experiences of war, it provided a personal thread to my research and ideas of protection and escape.

Name: Emily Booker

University: Bath Spa University

How do you escape from everyday life?

I delve into an imaginary world, the surreal and an exaggerated form of reality. It is a sort of bubble to protect me from the true harsh realities of everyday life, full of stress and expense.

Tell us about your collection and what inspired it.

It is all about the notion of surrealism, focusing on the fun and non-serious aspects of childhood. Initial inspiration came from the warm, comforting clothing of the Eskimo people, The print is a fundamental part of the collection and was meant to reflect the fantasy world I imagine, to help me escape.

Why is FAD such a good initiative for aspiring designers? FAD enables you to have a ‘fast-track’ into the exciting fashion world. It is just such an amazing opportunity, one that every up-and-coming designer dreams of – to show at London Fashion Week is something special in itself!

Name: Qi Zhang

University: Edinburgh College of Art

How do you escape from everyday life?

My escape is eating a pack of fresh blueberries, lying on the sofa doing nothing but imagining.

Tell us about your collection and what inspired it.

My collection is about the moment I’m relaxing. I wanted to create that feeling through the colours and shapes I chose. I got my inspiration one sunny afternoon whilst having a tea and a blueberry muffin! The light tan and blue became part of my colour palette and, the idea for the shape of my entry was inspired by Nina Saunders furniture pieces.

Name: Lucy Johnson

University: University of East London

How do you escape from everyday life?

I dream.

Tell us about your collection and what inspired it.

My inspiration came from my personality and what I want to escape, the fear of being alone somewhere I don’t want to be. I found the place through travel – looking at mountains, rocks and water to pick up textures and an organic feel.

Name: Kerri Goulden

University: Salford University

Tell us about your collection and what inspired it.

For my FAD collection I didn’t want to focus on a specific physical place to escape to, but rather the idea that you can escape to anywhere at any time through your own imagination.

Why is FAD such a good initiative for aspiring designers?

FAD gives amazing opportunities to young designers such as myself. It’s an incredible platform into the industry as there are such few chances to be able to showcase your work on such a scale, with such support.

Name: Rachael Brooks

University: Brighton University

Tell us about your collection and what inspired it.

My collection has been inspired by Dodie Smith’s 1940’s novel ‘I Capture the Castle’, specifically around the seventeen year old character, Cassandra (a whimsical tomboy). The collection is light-hearted, playful and contemporary, whilst taking influence from traditional handcraft techniques.

Why is FAD such a good initiative for aspiring designers?

FAD has enabled me to showcase my work to industry professionals, providing a platform and invaluable opportunity for fashion students like myself.

Name: Joanna Mandle

University: Manchester school of Art and Design, Metropolitan University

Tell us about your collection and what inspired it.

My collection was inspired through the concept of fusing fantasy and the beauty of the natural world. I would describe my collection as a whimsical but slightly sinister look back to childhood imagination in a modern day setting.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

The best advice I’ve ever been given is to remain true to yourself. Often working in a creative field surrounded by so many brilliant new concepts and ever-changing modes, it can be easy to forget your own unique qualities that make you the person you are.

Name: Milly Jackson

University: Nottingham Trent University

Tell us about your collection and what inspired it.

It’s an imaginary place. I had just finished reading the bestselling novel ‘The Life of Pi’; a world of magic realism, philosophy and wild animals so when I read the FAD brief, it chimed perfectly.

Why is FAD such a good initiative for aspiring designers?

This competition is a fantastic example of FAD’s work. It’s gives designers the opportunity to go from the blank page to a London catwalk.

What’s next for you?

I love designing and I love illustrating, so that’s the path I’m going to follow. I’m hoping to conquer the world with a pencil and a needle!

Name: Laura Carew-Gibson

University: De Montfort University

Tell us about your collection and what inspired it.

My collection is very much based on Venice beach and sunsets. I love 80′s fashion, so used this silhouette and style to base my designs on. Another key theme for me was dripping palm trees, with black on black and ombré on black.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

The best advice I’ve ever been given is that it’s only dresses at the end of the day and if something’s not working, then leave it. If it’s meant to be beautiful it will be.

Name: Shabana Mahomed

University: Thames Valley University, West London

How do you escape from everyday life?

I visualise quite a lot. I get inspired by the simple pleasures of life – I love to reflect upon the

designs, colours and ideas available around me. In fact, everyday objects in my life

are so fascinating that I don’t really need to ‘escape’ from it.

Tell us about your collection and what inspired it.

My collection is dedicated to nature and all the joys it bestows upon us. Truly, there

can be no other marvel – magnificent in all its glory and yet so varied and colourful. In particular, I was inspired by a secret garden in Canterbury. It was so serene, peaceful yet colourful- it was in complete contrast to the hustle and bustle of the high street just a few yards away.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Always follow the direction of your ‘internal compass’.

Name: Kay Wilcox

University: Huddersfield University

How do you escape from everyday life?

I love travelling to London to see all the sights and museums.

Tell us about your collection and what inspired it.

My collection is based on my escape to art galleries. I love art; it is another passion of mine which inspired my collection. I focused on architecture, colours and surfaces to create silhouette ideas and print designs.

Name: Ester Ndongala

University: University of Salford

Tell us about your collection and what inspired it.

I decided to escape from the London underground! To evade it, I imagined a different reality; an

imaginary world, a world of an ancient Greek civilisation. My collection is based on the idea of the interaction between people on the tube, which is represented by the print.

What’s the best advice you have ever been given?

My father told me to always be humble.

Name: Rachael Capper

Manchester School of Arts

Tell us about your collection and the place that inspired it?

Emmanuel Levinas wrote about the impossibility of the separation of the ‘I’ from ‘oneself’. The mind is constrained by reality and it is through our imagination that we can find freedom. My collection was inspired by this inner tension, while the surrealist writings of Julio Cortázar led to an investigation into ways that the mind can escape reality.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Do a placement. Working for Jena.Theo over the summer gave me a real insight into the industry and the drive needed to become successful.

Words: Jacqueline Anyanwu

FAD

Vauxhall Fashion Scout