Regular TellusFashion readers may remember a previous post about the H&M Design Award 2012 (those of you who don’t can read it here) The winner of the award was announced last week as Stine Riis (pictured below), a 28 year old graduate from the London College of Fashion. She was revealed as the global winner at a special catwalk show at Stockholm’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, where Stine presented her winning collection. Stine wins €50,000, and the chance to have around fifteen pieces from her collection sold in selected H&M stores in United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and The Netherlands in September. Stine was chosen by a grand jury which included fashion designer Christopher Kane, noted fashion journalists Hilary Alexander and Kristopher Arden Houser, fashion blogger Susie Lau, H&M’s creative advisor Margareta van den Bosch and H&M’s head of design, Ann-Sofie Johansson

“I am still overwhelmed. Showing at Stockholm’s Mercedes-Benz fashion week has been such a great experience. I can’t believe so many people came to see my collection! This award gives me the confidence and financial back-up I need to pursue my dream of building my own brand. I couldn’t have imagined a better start to my career as a designer,” says Stine Riis, winner of the H&M Design Award 2012.

“Stine Riis impressed us all with the maturity and modernity of her work. Her collection was so complete, and so well finished. It was such a sophisticated show, and such an exciting occasion. I am proud that Stine is the first winner of the H&M Design Award,” says Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M Head of Design.

“Stine Riis took the top prize with a polished, well-cut collection of strict tailoring in contrasting materials including leather, wool, metallic and bonded fabrics. Her silhouette was lean but flowing, and particularly effective was her use of colour: a slim blue and orange bi-colour top, for example, or a blue coat stamped with white,” says Hilary Alexander, fashion journalist.

Stine Riis is a designer from Copenhagen who studied for her BA at the London College of Fashion in the United Kingdom. She called her final collection “Decadence & Decay”, and describes her style as “tailored future elegance”. Stine puts great importance into the creative process and wants the construction of the garments to be part of the design, while also making clothing that is both wearable and covetable.

Meanwhile, the winner of the H&M Design Award People’s Prize was announced today as Anne Bosman. The prize has been decided by visitors to the H&M Design Award website, who have been voting since January 27 for their favourite collection. Anne Bosman receives a month’s internship at Christopher Kane’s design studio in London, giving him the chance to gain invaluable experience with one of fashion’s hottest designers.

Set up to encourage and support the brightest young fashion talent, the H&M Design Award has seen graduates from fourteen colleges in six different countries compete first to be the local winner, and then go on to the grand prize jury. Today’s fashion show was the culmination of the award process, with Stine winning the opportunity to show her work at Stockholm’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. The show was also streamed live at designaward2012.hm.com where the award process has been posted to inspire future generations interested in a career in fashion.

For more about the H&M Design Award, please visit designaward2012.hm.com.

H&M has recently announced the inauguration of the H&M Design Award. It’s a new prize that brings together graduates from major design colleges around Europe to encourage their future fashion careers, as well as to inspire the upcoming generations of designers.

Graduates from fourteen colleges in six countries will compete for the prize, with the winning collection being shown at Stockholm’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on February 1, along with a prize of €50,000. The winner will also get the chance to have chosen pieces from their collection sold in selected H&M stores later in the year. From January 13 everyone with an interest in fashion has been able to follow the awards process online through a series of films at designaward2012.hm.com. It will feature behind the scenes footage of the colleges and portraits of the designers, as well as the jury sessions and live streaming of the winner’s show on February 1.

“I’m very excited about the H&M Design Award. It´s our first ever prize for new young designers, and it’s been such an inspiring experience to meet these talented graduates, to hear the vision behind their collections and to see the final result. With the award I hope we encourage young designers around the world to believe in themselves and their creativity. I can’t wait to share the experience with everyone on-line.” Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M Head of Design.

For H&M’s first ever Design Award, BA graduates from fourteen fashion colleges are competing to become the local winner from their country, who then stand a chance of becoming the overall winner of the global Design Award prize. The participating colleges are Beckman’s College of Design, Stockholm and Borås Textilhögskolan, Borås in Sweden; DKDS, Copenhagen and Design Skolen Kolding, Kolding in Denmark; Universität der Kunste UdK, Berlin, University of Pforzheim, Pforzheim and Weissensee, Berlin in Germany; University of Brighton School of Architecture & Design, Brighton, Central Saint Martins, London and London College of Fashion, London in Great Britain; ArtEZ Institute of Arts, Arnhem and AMFI, Amsterdam in the Netherlands; Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp and La Cambre, Brussels in Belgium.

Along the way, videos and images of the graduates work will be posted online, meaning everyone gets to follow the progress of the award and to see 2012’s best new talent from around Europe. H&M’s Head of Design, Ann-Sofie Johansson, will blog about the process, and there will also be interviews with judges and glimpses into life at some of the world’s most prestigious fashion colleges. Visitors to the site can also vote for their favourite collection, the winner of which will receive a special People’s Prize. The overall winner of the H&M Design Award 2012 will show their collection at Stockholm’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, fast becoming one of the most important dates on the international fashion calendar.

The H&M Design Award will be an annual prize, confirming H&M’s commitment to the future of fashion, and to helping fashion move forward.

To follow the award process online visit designaward2012.hm.com
 

Regular TellusFashion readers' may remember my previous post on one of my favourite brands, Goddess and Swift (which you can read here).

The brand was established by sisters Larissa and Anna Watson in 2011 and has very quickly become loved and respected for its luxury and unique style. The S/S 2012 collection has just been launched and I think you will agree that it is gorgeous!

The Watson sisters have thirty years combined experience in printed and construced textiles and fashion. Their work is driven by passion and heritage, it is their blood. The sisters grew up in Belfast, a city which is known for its rich textile heritage, craftmanship. Coming from a long line of weavers, dyers and lacemakers, they both studied print, embroidery and fashion at university before developing their label. 

Goddess and Swift is the culimination of their experience and was born out of their passion to reflect the luxury of a bygone era in a label that was modern and ethical, whilst also influenced by Belfast's nautical legacy, giving the clothing a sense of place and purpose. 

The pieces in this collection are aimed at an older market in terms of the shapes and styling, which create flattering clothing that is enjoyable to wear. They combine with a wonderful creative vibe that will appeal to women of all ages, with statement prints, mixed with elegant lines. 

The S/S 2012 collection is available to order by calling the studio on +44 (0) 7816655701 or +44 (0) 28906 65100. For more information, visit www.goddessandswift.com.

"Image Credits: (Goddess and Swift Facebook page)"

(Images from Pluck & Devour Facebook page)
 

There are some events that must be a real thrill for an up and coming designer. Having a star wear one of your pieces on the world’s stage is one and a high street giant stocking your designs in one of their flagship stores is sure to be another.

Grainne Maher has experienced both of these highs recently.

Since Selena Gomez wore two of her necklaces on stage at the 2011 MTV EMA, Grainne, who was already a respected designer in Northern Ireland, has had her profile raised on an international scale.

As the photos were beamed throughout the world, I had a chance to speak to Grainne, who said;

“I am absolutely thrilled that Selena Gomez chose two pieces of my neckwear to wear at last nights MTV EMA’s. It’s such an honour to get your work viewed on a global stage with over 60million viewers! The first piece was Bark at the Moon, a black glitter Perspex pendant with a cut-out wolf silhouette from my Pluck & Devour jewellery range…The second piece was a one-off statement necklace made with tons of sequins, Swarovski crystals with a series of dangling long gold chains in various lengths.”

Grainne’s successful year is set to end on another high note with news that her jewellery will now be stocked as a concession at Belfast’s House of Fraser store. The jewellery stand will feature the Bark at the Moon pendant spotted on Selena, as well as some new pieces and limited edition pieces.

Those of you who are shopping in Belfast can visit the concession stand at House of Fraser (I know I will be, I’m looking forward to treating family and friends to some of the pieces!). If you aren’t in Belfast, you can shop online at the Pluck & Devour site here
 

Eilis Boyle was born in the Caribbean, to an Irish-Spanish family and has spent much of her life travelling around the world and being educated in places as diverse as Bolivia and Japan.

Eilis studied at the design college Instituto Europep di Design in Madrid before moving on to collaborate with some of Spain’s top fashion designers, including Isabel Berz.

In 2001, she moved to Ireland and began work with Lainey Keogh for two years before starting her own label.
Eilis began her own collection by bringing together her personal assortment of experiences and channelling them in to luxurious and wearable womenswear.

The range has already been showcased at several seasons of Dublin Fashion Week, for six seasons at Paris Fashion Week and is quickly gaining international success.

Image from Elis Boyle Facebook Page

For more information, you can visit Eilis Boyle’s website here 

(image courtesy of Sharon Curran PR)

Nineteenthirty is one of Belfast kept secrets - until now!

The luxury menswear label is owned by Belfast designer Bronagh Griffin, who has worked for many years as a consultant designer, brand developer and trend-forecaster for national and international brands.  She launched her own menswear label, www.nineteenthirty.co.uk online two years ago.
 
Nineteenthirty will open its first pop-up shop on November 25th , at 340 Lisburn Road for six weeks and bring Bronagh’s luxurious range of men’s shirts, scarves and ties and brand ethos, direct to the customer within her stylish store.
 
Bronagh is influenced by the spirit of the 1930’s, that very creative period that coupled tradition and modernism, hence the name of her label! Her shirts tell a story under three main themes; Speakeasy, Voyager and Roadtrip and are always a talking point for those wearing them.
 
Nineteenthirty, shirts, ties and scarves are ethically manufactured in Europe to the highest quality. The shirts are limited edition and are either 1/50 or 1/65 and are marked with a uniquely numbered thumbprint just like a printed work of art. Scarves and ties are also numbered and each style is produced in quantities of no more than 25. All the shirts are made using two fold cottons and the fabrics are from the finest Italian mills and fit immaculately; the silk used for scarves and ties is in its purest form.
 
Bronagh has said of the new venture:
“ I am so excited to be bringing the label direct to my Northern Ireland  customers and getting the chance to meet customers face-to-face through the pop-up shop experience.  My online customer base continues to grow in the UK and Europe, but this way, I get to raise awareness of my label at home and hopefully attract some more home-grown fans of my designs.  I look forward advising customers on the perfect fit and style of Nineteenthirty shirt to suit them or a loved one for Christmas.”
 

Other stylish stocking fillers and treats will also be on sale in-store which Bronagh has sourced locally and abroad. The pop-up shop will stay open until January 7th and many of the shirts will be on offer at a special in-store price for a limited time e.g. those on offer in-store at £135, normally retail online at £150. So it’s is worthwhile calling in before Christmas.
 
Nineteenthirty will open every day from 10am. Check online for late night opening times and further information at www.nineteenthirty.co.uk

Elle UK cover, image from www.elleuk.com

Lady Gaga is Elle UK’s latest cover girl.

The star, who is known for her support of up and coming designers, is wearing Irish designer Simone Rocha on the cover.

I posted about Ms Rocha  last week (you can read the post here)  and was delighted to see this dress, which is from her Spring/Summer 2012 collection on the cover, and indeed on Lady Gaga.

This is not the first time that Lady Gaga has been spotted in one of Rocha’s designs. The star was spotted in a white lace top and skirt, also from the S/S 2012 collection whilst on a trip to London in October. 

Simone Rocha spoke to vogue.co.uk at the time and had this to say about Gaga wearing her clothing:

“It’s always a compliment when somebody chooses to wear my designs,”

“After showing in London I was told she would be interested in pieces from the collection and I’m delighted she chose some pieces for her time in London. I believe my clothes should be integrated into someone’s personal style and it has definitely integrated into her signature.”

Elle are giving readers an exclusive chance to win the Simone Rocha dress that Gaga is wearing on the cover. Described on the website as “bright green frill net dress and worth £455, silk organza, available at Dover Street Market”, the competition is open to UK and Ireland residents only. You can enter by clicking here 

For more information, and too see her collections, you can visit Simone Rocha’s website at simonerocha.com

For a sneak peak at the Elle interview, click here