Awards and recognition for textiles students
Textiles students from the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) at Farnham have shone this year, picking up a number of prestigious industry awards and accolades.
The BA (Hons) Textiles for Fashion & Interiors degree has had a great 12 months with numerous third year students being recognised by the industry in the form of awards, placements and exhibitions.
Weave specialist Katy Harper won the regional prize of the Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) Design Competition and was awarded second prize at the national contest. Christine Teeling was as a runner-up in the London regional heat.
Katy Harper, who is 21 and from Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, said: "Winning the London section of the competition and coming runner-up in the UK final has made me more confident about my work, and given me the chance to meet some very influential people from the textile world.
"My journey with the SDC has not ended here, as I have now joined the London committee board, and will be part of the judging panel for next year's design competition, which is very exciting."
Course leader Hannah White said: "We are very proud of Katy and Christine successes at the SDC Design Competition. For two students from the course to be given awards for this highly regarded national competition, highlights the strong design skills of our textiles students."
Alice Howard-Graham, who specialises in Print, won the 2012 Bradford Textile Design Competition. The 23-year-old from Lewes, East Sussex, had previously won the opportunity to fly to France and show her collection to designers at fashion house, Hermes.
Alice said: "It felt really good to win. It was great to attend the ceremony and network with people from the industry.
"I think it's really valuable to enter any competitions when you're doing your degree - especially in the second and third years. It's good to have things like that behind you to put on your CV."
Print specialist Angela Johnston beat hundreds of entrants to be selected as one of the finalists of the Zizzi restaurant Menu Design Competition 2012.
Angela, who is 22 and from Northamptonshire, also had her work shown as part of the Rising Stars exhibition at the New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham.
Supported by the Billmeir Charitable Trust in partnership with UCA and the Farnham Maltings, Rising Stars featured a variety of media by more than 30 recent art, craft and design students.
Angela said: "Being involved in the Rising Stars exhibition was amazing. I felt really lucky to be picked and it was great to see my work in the gallery."
"The experience in general has helped me gain confidence, and get exposure. I heard people talking about my work in the private view, which was really empowering."
Along with four other UCA Textiles students, Katie Jones, Carly Slingo, Katherine Trotman and Christine Teeling, Angela was also selected to take part in The Hong Kong Polytechnic University 'New Beat' International Student Exhibition in November 2012.
UCA Textiles student Colette Ayers has been named as one of the top ten finalists for the Festival of Quilts competition 2012, held at the Birmingham NEC. Judging will take place during the show, which is held in August.
Natalie Bryne and Emma Colyer have gained graduate jobs at Colefax and Fowler, Shaney Morrison is an assistant buyer for Primark, while Charlotte Stewart has been given an internship at Liberty.
For more information contact:
David Reilly, Press Officer, UCA
T: 01252 892939
E: dreilly@ucreative.ac.uk
