29.10.07
Australia, Hong Kong, Paris, India and London: Textile Design at Falmouth goes global

University College Falmouth BA(Hons) Textile Design graduate, Alice Richardson, the highest placed UK entrant, has scooped second place in the Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery 2007, a prestigious international competition which attracts students of embroidery, fashion and textiles from across the globe.

As part of her prize, Alice has won an all-expenses-paid trip to the prizegiving ceremony in Sydney, Australia, where she will also attend the Hand & Lock conference entitled ‘Embroidering…the future’, as well as $1000.

The competition promotes the use of hand embroidered surface embellishment within the fashion industry and is at the forefront of innovation in student embroidery design.

In response to the ecclesiastical brief, Alice produced a sumptuous collection of sophisticated and contemporary haute couture fashion fabrics, entitled ‘Lady in Black’, which were informed by Queen Victoria’s period of mourning.

Hand & Lock chairman, Alastair Macleod, commented: “We are absolutely delighted at the high standard of work and delighted to see the prize is making such a contribution to the future of embroidery.”

“The tutors at Falmouth pushed me to strive for new limits, inspiring me to create techniques for embroidery and beading,” commented Alice. “This, together with their comprehensive knowledge and expertise on the competition requirements such as selecting strong photographs of the work; creating a supporting statement; and presenting my work professionally, all helped me to win this prize.”

Alice was also singled out along with fellow graduate, Ed Forster, as two of the top 24 UK Textile Design graduates for Texprint, a non-profit making registered charity, whose aim it is to link the best newly-graduated textile designers with industry.

Ed won the top award in the ‘Colour’ category, judged by leading fashion designer, Jasper Conran, who said: “Edward’s work is brave, strong, it does not hold back. The depth of his thinking seeks to convey meaning over and above the visual, and his use of colour is superb.”

Following the competition, Ed took his work to Hong Kong to exhibit at Interstoff Asia Essential and both he and Alice also participated in Indigo at Premiere Vision in Paris, the world’s most famous fabric show.

Sheona Quenby and Miranda Hicks have also made their mark on the world of textile design.

Sheona has been selected as one of the top 50 design graduates from this summer’s New Designers exhibition and her work has recently been on display at the Oxo Tower in London.

Miranda was one of only ten designers to be shortlisted in a competition staged by Bridging Arts and Brent Museum to design contemporary British sari fabrics. Miranda was the only non-Asian designer selected. Her work was presented at the India Now Family Day at the V&A, and Miranda was interviewed by BBC2 for a programme that will be broadcast in January.

“We are thrilled to see so many proactive students entering national and international competitions and doing so well,”added Di Downs, who leads the College’s BA(Hons) in Textile Design. “They have all earned their success through initiative and hard work, and are to be sincerely congratulated for their efforts,” Di continued. “Textile Design at Falmouth is all about fostering links with international industry and it is rewarding to see our graduates flying the Falmouth flag across the world.”

University College Falmouth is a founding partner in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC), a unique initiative to promote regional economic regeneration through Higher Education. The CUC is funded mainly by the European Union (Objective One), the South West Regional Development Agency, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, with support from Cornwall County Council.

For further information about BA(Hons) Textile Design at University College Falmouth, please visit: www.falmouth.ac.uk, email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or telephone Admissions on 01326 214385.

For further information please contact Jilly Easterby, Head of Public Affairs, University College Falmouth, on 01326 213792 or email jilly.easterby@falmouth.ac.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) project, both Phase 1 and Phase 2, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). UniversityCollegeFalmouth is a partner of the CUC.

Editor's notes:

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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