Topshop And Topman Announce Winners Of The Graduate Design Programme
Two talented students have been announced as the winners of the Graduate Design Programme, an initiative launched by The British Fashion Council, Topshop and Topman, to support graduate talent. The award, which launched this year, offers the two students a prestigious 12 month paid internship, at Topshop and Topman, respectively and reinforces the on-going support both Topshop and Topman and the British Fashion Council offer emerging talent.
The British Fashion Council has been supporting designers from college level since their launch in 1983 and BFC COO Simon Ward proudly commented on the award, saying; “As sponsors of our emerging talent initiatives NEWGEN and NEWGEN MEN, we’re delighted to be partnering with TOPSHOP and TOPMAN on this new venture to extend further support to graduate level talent. The Graduate Design Programme offers students invaluable industry experience and we’re certain both winners will thrive from the experience.
Sally Hewett from Northumbria University has been named the winner for Topshop and Rebecca Howarth from Manchester School of Art has been chosen as the winner for Topman. To enter the competition, students were required to submit a minimum of one mood board, depicting commercial awareness and a good understanding of the Topshop or Topman customer. This mood board was then used as a springboard to inspire designs for a 15 piece capsule collection, which fully incorporated their theme and demonstrated key silhouettes, fabrics and colours.
The selection committee included representatives from Topshop and Topman, and applicants were invited to a meeting to present and discuss their design projects. A high calibre of work was submitted and a lengthy decision process was involved in selecting the winning students.
Mary Homer, Managing Director of TOPSHOP, said; “The Graduate Design Programme in partnership with the British Fashion Council is a natural extension of our work with design talent in the UK; it allows us to support emerging and graduate designers. The winner will have the opportunity to develop as a designer and gain valuable first-hand experience of a business through their time at Topshop.”
