Coventry graduate scoops top fashion award

A first-class honours fashion student from Coventry University has won a top award at this year’s illustrious Midlands Fashion Designer Awards (MFDA) in Birmingham.

Alice Moore, from Coventry, took home the ‘Young Designer of the Year’ accolade after impressing the judging panel – which included high-end fashionistas Lizzy Gardner and Gavin Douglas – with her quirky style.

The event took place in Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens, and featured 26 young designers showcasing their work – including five other students from this year’s graduating fashion cohort at Coventry University.

Alice’s colourful and contemporary collection drew inspiration from the seasons, with an array of garment styles, textures and fabrics used to produce four outfits which were exhibited on the catwalk.

The 23-year-old took advantage of state-of-the-art laser-cutting, welding and digital printing facilities in the University’s fashion studios on campus.

As part of her prize, Alice’s award-winning outfits will be displayed in the popular North Western Arcade in central Birmingham courtesy of Retail Birmingham. She will also have the chance to showcase her work at the Midlands Business Awards in early 2013, and will take part in a professional photo shoot.

Alice, who will graduate this November with a first-class honours degree in fashion, said:

I am over the moon and honoured to have won the award. It’s an amazing feeling to know my hard work throughout my final year at Coventry University was totally worth it. It’s a great platform for the advanced skills and facilities being utilised there every day, and I now have a huge confidence boost to push myself to the forefront of the fashion industry.

Ann Muirhead, head of fashion at Coventry University, said:

All of the Coventry University graduate and student collections on show at the Botanical Gardens in the final of the Midlands Fashion Designer Awards were outstanding.

We were thrilled that Alice was selected as Midlands Designer of the Year, she has an exceptional talent and is a worthy winner. Alice’s success will give her the opportunity to promote her considerable design skills to a wider fashion audience.

Created in 2008, the Midlands Fashion Designer Awards offer new and emerging fashion talent the opportunity to compete for three titles – Young Designer, Emerging Designer and Independent Designer – and to show off their work to a panel of fashion professionals.

Students on the fashion course at Coventry University also volunteered on the night to work as backstage assistants during the event.

To learn more about the University’s BA (Hons) Fashion degree, please click here.