Bury Student is Award Winner in London Fashion Week Final

Date published: 27 September 2011

Gemma Halliwell, 17, saw an outfit she created win an award on the London Fashion Week catwalk earlier this week, when she triumphed at the 2011 FAD Junior Awards. 

Organised by creative charity FAD (Fashion Awareness Direct), the catwalk final featured designs by 25 talented teenagers from London and Manchester, and took place at Vauxhall Fashion Scout in Covent Garden on Tuesday 20th September as part of their official schedule for London Fashion Week.

Gemma, who is studying at Bury College, was presented with the Award for Commercial Design for her wearable, vintage floral print dress with lace cape. The design was inspired by the ceramics Gemma saw on an FAD research trip to the V&A Museum in London.

“It’s just something that you don’t expect at such a young age, it’s just wow! Something I really wasn’t expecting to win an award. FAD have really, really helped me. When I first started, I had never made a dress before.” saids Gemma Halliwell.

The project is heavily supported by industry, and on the evening there was a packed house at the Freemason’s Hall with guests from River Island, George at Asda and Marie Claire taking front row seats. Excited family, friends and teachers were also there to support the young designer’s debut at London Fashion Week.

Originally selected from 100 young people who participated in FAD’s Fashion Futures 2
workshops earlier this year, the 25 finalists spent a week at the FAD Summer School, held at the University of East London. Supported by a team of tutors and student mentors, the 16 – 19 year olds had only 5 days in which to construct their designs for the catwalk final.

Now in its seventh year, the Fashion Futures initiative aims to provide teenagers with a realistic insight into what it means to work in the creative industries. FAD uses fashion as a tool to connect with young people – to develop vocational and professional skills, while also encouraging self esteem, motivation and aspirations for a better future.