Previous Winners

Q&As with Previous Finalists

Q&A with Scarlett Simpson – Winner of the 2023 High Street Menswear Award, sponsored by Next.

Q: How did you first hear about Fashanne – Fashion Designers of the Future Awards?

A: I first heard of the Fashanne Awards when Anne Davies, founder of the Fashanne Awards, came to visit Nottingham Trent University to present the idea of the Awards. I had also seen some images and social media content on previous 3rd years design accounts but wasn’t so aware of the amazing prizes and industry exposure the awards had to offer.

Q: Why did you decide to get involved with the Fashanne Awards?

A: Anne was amazing in presenting (funnily enough!) the awards to us students in a very compelling format, mentioning it was an awards ceremony that was only accessible for a select range of universities across the Midlands and thus a likely opportunity to be awarded prizes and internship opportunities. Nottingham Trent University also mentioned these awards early on in our 3^rd year, which allowed us time to figure out which of our final projects could fit into the relevant Fashanne Awards categories.

There’s more….click here to read full article.

Fashanne chats to Brooke Sheerin – Runner up of the 2023 High Street Menswear Award, sponsored by Next

One of the main reasons Fashanne was set up, was to help students bridge the gap between education and employment. To date we have had over 500 students enter Fashanne with over 24 internships offered since we introduced them in 2022. With our sponsors like Next offering internships, they often result in employment – which is what happened with Brooke.

Click here to list to the podcast where Brooke shares her experience.

Q&A with Jihwi Ahn – Winner of the 2023 Footwear & Accessories Award, sponsored by Pentland Brands.

Q: How did you first hear about Fashanne – Fashion Designers of the Future Awards?

A: I first learned about the Fashanne Awards through De Montfort University during my third year. My course tutors encouraged me to apply for the award.

 Q: Why did you decide to get involved with the Fashanne Awards?

A: The Fashanne Awards seemed like an exciting opportunity to showcase work from various universities. Additionally, the inclusion of categories for Footwear and Accessories aligned perfectly with my interests and allowed me to participate.

There’s more….click here to read full article.

Q&A with Emma Garner – Winner of the Footwear & Accessories Award 2016

Q: Why did you decide to take part in the Fashanne Awards?

A: I had just started developing bag samples in my final year when Anne pitched the Awards to my Textiles course – I jumped at the opportunity to strive for the Footwear and Accessories Award as I enjoy a goal and focus point. It was especially appealing to have my bags down a catwalk and to experience the whole event as I’d never participated in anything like this before. The exposure was brilliant and I gained a bit of press which was great having only just graduated.

Q: Career wise, what did you do after the event?

A: I went to All Saints as their Bags Design Assistant for a couple of years before heading to House of Fraser as their Handbags Designer. Then four years after graduating I took the leap to launch my own handbag brand Isla de Gar. All our bags are made to order in our East London studio. Focusing on woven mediums, we design contemporary, sculptural bags made using satin ribbon.  

There’s more…click here to read full article.

FASHANNE 2022