Midlands Fashion Awards 2015 - Finalists

Fashionsistas

Award winning designer Rose Perkins is the name behind the brand FashionSistas based in Birmingham.  Rose specialises in creating 'one off bespoke unique pieces' mainly for women. She started customising, upcycling and recycling her own garments by hand since 2010. Then In 2014 she made an investment to enrol onto a local fast track sewing course. This course has helped her create garments from scratch which are now being sought after both nationally and internationally.  

Rose is the Personal Stylist for Lady Leshurr a Birmingham born female uk music artist, who she has dressed for the MOBO Awards. Also her pieces have graced the Brazillian carnival 2013 worn by Edu Casanova & Ayi Jihu.  

Her 'Back to Black in the wilderness collection' has been showcased in London, Paris, Portugal, Dubai & Hollywood L.A.  Rose is looking forward to showcasing her new collection at Midlands Fashion Awards 2015 to at the CBSO Centre in Birmingham.

Tiffany Stanford

Tiffany has been involved in the creative fashion industry all of her working career.   As a designer she has worked with many top global brand clients.

Tiffany gained her Degree and HND in fashion design from Northampton University and after setting up her fashion design company, became an award winning fashion designer, selling her designs to Top Shop London and to outlets around the UK. She also runs Bareback Ltd an award winning promotional and corporate clothing design company; clients include Arsenal Football Club, WKD, Imperial Tobacco, Ferrari, Captain Morgan and Alfa Romeo.

Tiffany is excited to be currently working on a new business project her Tiffany Stanford Online Boutique which will stock her own collection 7 Dresses by Tiffany Stanford both to be launched and showcased this year!   Tiffany said “I am very excited to be showcasing my collection at the MFA Independent Designers Catwalk Show in August”.

Boo-Couture

Boo Couture is an inspirational collection of fairytale glamour born from the love of a bygone era and all things sensual, feminine and stylish. Driven by a dream to create a Hepburn inspired collection using tactile fabrics which simply beg to be worn, Toni Rowles, Boo Coutures founder, is living her dream and is making this a reality. The Collection is a versatile range of mix and match pieces, designed to be worn by each and every woman - to take the wearer from day to night with effortless chic!  

Boo Couture will be showcasing in the MFA Independent Designers Catwalk Show to be held at the official launch of the Midlands Fashion Awards 2015 on Friday 7th August 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham.  The brand had also been nominated for an award at the Midlands Fashion Awards 2015 to be held Friday 16th October at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) Centre.

EMINENCE by Dancing Dolls UK

Dancing Dolls UK is a handmade women's ready-to-wear brand, designed and manouvered under the creative direction of Independent fashion designer, Paulinah Eboh-Sampson. Stemming from the fusion of the feisty, empowering relationship between dancer and dance form along with creative fashion notions, it now focuses on clothing with a sexy, urban chic impression, whilst playing on the boarders of its roots and influences from the genre and attire for dance.   

Dancing Dolls UK is a finalist of Midlands Fashion Awards 2015, we look forward to see their new collection on the catwalk.

Maurice Whittingham

Maurice was born in Birmingham and is very proud of his heritage and the diverse culture which embodies his home city. Although he completed some educational training at Birmingham art college where he studied bespoke tailoring Maurice is predominantly a self-taught designer.

He owned his own shop and studio at the well renowned custard factory the hub of arts and entertainment in Birmingham. During this time he was commissioned by the charity jeans for genes to produce design and dress the iconic Birmingham bull statue as well as producing designs for Mazda's TV adverts.. After leaving the custard factory Maurice designed and supplied clothing for many private clients including Glynn Purnell celebrity chef, Amp Fiddler the renowned American music artist and the Francesco Group Annual Hair Awards ‘Extreme White Collection' 2014.

He also produced a variety of one off items including mens/womenswear, bags and accessories. Maurice’s love and passion for tailoring with a distinctive feel and edge originates from his childhood, passed on by his mother who inspired him with her love of clothes and creativity.... Maurice believes style and fashion are a great expression of individuality and personality. He holds a strong belief that the shape of any garment is paramount to foundation for success.. ' You can manipulate the best fabrics available but without the correct shape and proportions you cannot achieve the desired effect'.. Maurice aspires to bring happiness style and a sense of occasion to others with his creations.

RCW by Reece Curtis-Walwyn (Guest Designer)

RCW A/W15 collection was inspired by the phrase ' Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that' unknown. Which lead the journey of designing to nature lightening, though the cities in the UK. Each pieced shown at MFA catwalk show is empowering women through the tailored inspired clothing , colour balance and the attention to detail. RCW clothing can be worn from day to night, dressed up or down through the course of the day.  

Michael Wallace (Guest Designer)

Since winning the Midlands Emerging Designer of the Year 2014 I have been fortunate enough to be asked to showcase a collection at the For the Stars Fashion House, a pre Oscars fashion show held in Los Angeles, Hollywood.

Meanwhile I have been living in London taking commissions and working within a bridal department. Most recently I was asked to take part in this year’s London Fashion Week - an incredible experience to say the least.

Thank you to Midlands Fashion Awards for helping me achieve such an exciting year and the future looks promising." 

Michael returns this autumn to showcase his new collection at the Midlands Fashion Awards 2015 to be held at the CBSO Centre, Birmingham.

Megan Crook

Megan Crook is a self-taught textile guru. Although specialising in knitwear, Crook's recent work displays an emphasis on pattern cutting and garment construction. Each piece is individually crafted in Megan's home studio with the highest level of dedication and is an extension of her effervescent nature. The Crooked Knitwear label was established in 2005 as a collection of hand knits and has continued to grow over the years through a marriage of colour and texture.

Megan’s progression as a designer, maker and entrepreneur has been as much about improving technical skills as it has been a spiritual journey. Because of Megan’s bold use of colours often been recommended she sell at music festivals and since traded at Glastonbury, SGP, Wilderness etc as well as her normal high end craft shows such as Art in Action. Last year Megan launched the Get Crooked collection, Crooked Knitwear’s festival fashion love child, a flurry of fluorescent fabulousness.

Separating the collections has helped Megan better focus on creating the perfect garments for varying demographics. Megan collaborates with Liberty Art Fabrics and regularly uses their timeless prints in the Crooked Knitwear range. The popularity in the last year has exploded and encouraged Megan to develop a third range for boutique customers. A recent collaboration with Italian shoes designer, Caterina Belluardo, has inspired the intricate geometric fairisle knits of the upcoming collection in colours to match Liberty’s prints. This first collection for MC by Megan Crook is set to be photographed end of May 2015.

Megan will be showcasing her latest collection at  Midlands Fashion Awards 2015 to be held Friday 16th October 2015  at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) Centre.

Sarah Louise Woodward

Orenda, a mystical force present in all people empowering them to make positive changes in the world. My concept and designs encapsulate modern day glamour, feminism and asymmetry to challenge the ideals of beauty. The evolution of glamour has heavily influenced my collection and views as a designer. Discovering that glamour derived from the word grammar is how my concept began.

As the word emerged into the English language it was associated with courtesans, they were believed to live a luxurious lifestyle, men would provide expensive clothing so that the women appeared to be desirable. The link between glamour and feminism became apparent. Glamour has a close relation to beauty, it is said that there is beauty in symmetry; my collection challenges this by creating beautiful asymmetrical garments. The garments use individually sewn in pleats within the angled panels to combine femininity and structural lines, inspiration came from the dresses of the 1950s which was an era of sexism.

At this time the dresses were pulled in at the waist and flared out, usually with pleats. I wanted to create a contemporary style of pleating that could be used on fitted garments. The garments in the Orenda collection are about liberation; they provide women with choice. They aren't about covering up or showing skin, they a make a woman feel empowered and confident.

Sarah will be showcasing her collection  at the Midlands Fashion Awards 2015 to be held Friday 16th October 2015  at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) Centre.

Credits

Designer and Stylist: Sarah Louise Woodward

Photographer: Chloe Ann Charnock

Model: Tessa Burton 

Make-up artist and Hair stylist: Emma Rozenbroek

Kashane Swaby

My spring/summer 2015 haute couture collection will show how empowering and strong females are through the different use of fabrics, textures, silhouettes and the use of surface embellishments.  As a fashion designer I love experimenting with detail. I strongly believe that a design should feel as interesting as well as look appealing. My designs are mixed with a variety of  African wax printed cotton fabrics with the use of heavy embellishments such as beading with crystal gems to cotton and nylon embroidery threads. In contrast to the other materials such as chiffon, silk and sheer nylon are used to compliment but to enhance the details due to their transparent density.  The colours within my collection are quite vibrant and bold which accommodate the prints. Colours such as emerald green, red, hints of orange and navy blue will be visible throughout my collection. I have tried to make each colour compliment each other through my use of embellishments however I wanted the African printed fabrics to contrast each other to represent the boldness and the strength of a woman which answers my objective of promoting change. 

ElevenFiftyNine

Meena Chang is the designer behind the label Eleven Fifty Nine. She has always had an interest in art fashion and poetry from a very young age. She spent years watching her mother sew and at the age of 13 her mother enrolled her onto an evening class where she learned how to use newspaper to pattern draft and then to sewing her own garments.

As a self-taught designer, her work is mostly handmade by herself. Inspired by artists such as Van Gogh and Wassily Kandinsky and inspired by their love of nature, colours, lines and shapes she has designed a collection that exhibits fashion entwined with a touch of Art. 

The label Eleven Fifty Nine consists of a collection of Autumn/Winter 2016 Haute Couture designs.  The collection incorporates interesting warm colours infused with some handiwork, which will also include certain embellishments and embroidery. 

C La Rouge Fashion Design

The C La Rouge collection is built on emotions and feelings; the designer behind the brand Charlie Gray designs one off pieces that showcase and portraying her style and individuality.  Her designs are handmade however she is also a dab hand with the sewing machine when needs be. Her spring/summer 2016 women and menswear collection consists of diamond and pearl embellishments and are based around abstract art, a mixture of light material and summer spring colours are used to reflect the warm season and the blooming of flowers think big think beauty think colours of joy.

Abagail Emily Vincent

The inspiration for my collection comes from the Palace of Versailles in France and the rich interiors. I love embellishment and intricate details so this was a perfect starting point for me. I have also taken a lot of inspiration from my own life especially my childhood, things I used to love and things I believe in.

I think it’s really important to always remember who you are in a world full of other people.  You need to let your personality shine through. The concept behind my designs is children’s wear on women. The garments I have created are perfect for either your 5th or 25th birthday party.

I find childhood fascinating, as a child you are free, your imagination is your best friend, and your biggest worry is what game to play next. As an adult now I realise how special childhood is, and as a designer I want to bring back a carefree idealism.

Abagail will be showcasing her collection  at the Midlands Fashion Awards 2015 to be held Friday 16th October 2015  at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) Centre.

Georgia Richardson

Georgia Richardson recently graduated from the Manchester School of Art. Georgia grew up and attended The Royal Grammar School, in Worcester which is where she discovered her love for design and construction of clothing. Her initial inspiration for her final collection was formed by her research into car engines and from Michael Sandles ˜Del Tromler” statue.

Inspired by mechanical elements and warrior inspired statues this started to create her concept of a futuristic hybrid warrior empowering and protecting herself through strong, sculptural armour. The hybrid inspiration influenced the combination of natural and technical fabrics and the teaming of flowing movement combined with tailored elements. The engine inspired prints are mixed with a clean, minimal aesthetic for a modern look. I inspired and influenced by the women I meet day to day and how they use garments to instil confidence and strength.

This ethos has been something which has influenced her final years work; the concept for my project is connected to the use of woman’s clothes as protection and empowerment. Georgia hopes to start her own label, designing and making clothes, as this is her passion. She hope to continue on furthering her construction and design skills and is striving to become a more confident and professional designer.

Georgia will be showcasing her collection  at the Midlands Fashion Awards 2015 to be held Friday 16th October 2015  at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) Centre.

Ronja Fell

Fashion graduate Ronja FelI started her studies at Helmo Mode in Liège in Belgium. A recent graduate from Coventry university, her final year collection explores the Northern lights.

 Excited by the amazing spectacular of the lights, the greens, the white stripes and purple ones, natural spectacle, dynamic texture, strong colours and impressive chaps. translated in her collection.

An amazing spectacle; however at the same time it seems so tangible and strong but also unrealistic and far. It is fantastic. In my collection I translated this experience, of the force of nature, this natural spectacle, into dynamic texture, strong colors and impressive chaps. It seems powerful and impressive but in the same time mysterious and unreal.

Ronja will be showcasing her collection  at the Midlands Fashion Awards 2015 to be held Friday 16th October 2015  at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) Centre

Kayleigh Wright

Kayleigh recently graduated from Coventry University with a BA Hons degree in Fashion Design.  Her research for her collection started off by looking into the Bauhaus Art Movement and especially the main artists of the movement such as Paul Klee, Wassily Kandisky and the textile artist Ani Albers, ‘Masters’ of the Bauhaus which were in charge of the individual courses run at the school. Her research gave an interesting insight into the artist where she found that the artists combined his way of working within within their work. 

They combined very clean, straight and angular design alongside free flowing and curvaceous lines, something Kayleigh would like to represent. It was whilst conducting this research that she stumbled across a modernist Bauhaus trained artist called Imi Knoebel which immediately captivated her.  In awe of the simplistic yet beautiful combinations of shape, colour and scale! At this point Kayleigh feels that her collection is very much a mixed bag of all those inspirations and also the everyday things she has seen along the way.

Kayleigh will be showcasing her collection at the Midlands Fashion Awards 2015 to be held Friday 16th October 2015  at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) Centre.

Isla Gilbertson

Isla Gilbertson is a final year Contour Fashion student at De Montfort University with the desire to push lingerie and fashion forward through pattern cutting, design and technical skills; she is inspired by objects and by surroundings to create unique intricate lingerie.  She has a passion for designing lingerie and body wear, and is look forward to a future career in this industry. Isla is very interested in creating unique, individual garments and designs. I am currently half way through creating my 6 outfit lingerie collection and have attached a selection of photos from completed outfits.

Isla has created a lingerie collection with a strong outwear drive using leather as her driving fabric.  She decided to use leather for lingerie as she wanted to show her skills as a designer, pattern cutter, and maker. By using unconventional lingerie fabrics for her collection and combining this with her strength in pattern cutting, she has created a collection unlike any other lingerie collection available in the industry. Initial inspiration for her collection came from her drawings of a deer's skull, combined with styling and settings from 1970's film Mad Max. Through developmental drawings and designs she has created her lingerie collection.

Isla will be showcasing her collection  at the Midlands Fashion Awards 2015 to be held Friday 16th October 2015  at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) Centre.

Sophie Hudson

Sophie is a final year fashion student at Staffordshire University studying Fashion in the Bridal pathway.  Her future aspirations include ultimately, having her own studio and bridal boutique selling her own dresses. A minimalist tone embodies her Spring/Summer 16 bridal collection.

It is inspired by the bohemian intricacy and intimacy of lingerie and nightwear. Sophie has focused on the use of lingerie elements in a wearable bridal collection, looking into the ˜new look” of the modern day bride who wants a dress that is relaxed, comfortable and functioning but flattering, delicate and individual, unlike anything she will wear again.   

The collection will combine multiple new bridal trends to be able to appeal to the wider audience; bringing in elements of subtle colours, layering textured fabrics, illusion panels and the upcoming two piece trend. Understated femininity is the central story in the collection, with carefully considered sophisticated detailing that compliments the simple silhouettes adding to their distinctive appeal.

Sophie will be showcasing her collection at the Midlands Fashion Awards 2015 to be held Friday 16th October 2015  at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) Centre.

Monday Boutique

The mother daughter duo at Monday Boutique create simple accessories that make a big impact on existing wardrobes. From the Fabody Slip, to the Monday Sleeves, which are worn over a bra and under any top or dress to discretely tone and sculpt the arms. Each piece has been designed to create a flattering and accessible style for women of any age, shape or size. The range is unique and is different to anything else on the market both in design and comfort.

House of Monday Boutique will be showcasing their collection at the Independent Designers Catwalk Show, to be held at the official launch of the Midlands Fashion Awards 2015, at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham on Friday 7th August.

Kavina Tank

Kavina graduated from Coventry University in 2015, her inspiration for her "Mademoiselle" Millinery Collection came from observing the architectural structure of buildings, especially "The Louvre"-Paris; she used Sinamay material which reflects the exterior structure of "The Louvre".  Kavina said “I believe that fashion is not about following the crowd but is about creating something unique through passion and creativity”.  Kavina is looking forward to showcasing her millinery collection at the Midlands Fashion Awards to be held October 2015.

Spirit of Harlequin

Accessory Designer Finalist, Rachel Warrilow creates vintage inspired hats and headpieces, with a modern, quirky twist for her brand Spirit of Harlequin. She describes millinery as her passion and obsession, which shines through in her elegant and glamorous designs.  Rachel used sinamay, silk, felt, feathers and a range of colours t create different effects. The Spirit of Harlequin name describes the fun in dressing up for an event, the desire to be different, to express yourself and to feel fabulous. In the words of Stephen Jones, an inspiration, "Why should self-expression stop at the neck"?

France Leonard

A collection of beautiful designed bags and jewellery.  France chose her own journey into the world of fashion as her inspiration for her collection.  Influenced by countries such as Berlin and Coventry where she studied a degree in fashion design she is  particular influenced by her home town  in Paris,  She has used images, sketches and drawings to create her own prints which can be seen through her designs. 

Banugat

BANUGAT is an independent and exciting luxury watch brand designed exclusively in the UK by Dyran Odunuga. Currently studying for a degree in Computer Science at the University of Wolverhampton Dryan’s heart is in accessory design in particular watches and complimentary products. Something he has been passionate about for many years. The inspiration behind his BANUGAT designs and future ideas is to offer genuinely good value for money and "must have" fashionable items through a unique trade in programme. He believe the luxury accessory market needs to be available to all and at realistically affordable prices. 

Banugat will be exhibiting at the Independent Designers Catwalk Show to be held Friday 7th August and at the Midlands Fashion Awards 2015 to be held Friday 16th October 2015  at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) Centre.

Leanne Brown

Fatou Jagne

Gabrielle Hunt

Navdeep Makh