|
Ellie Brooks and
Lydia Crook are among 15 students from across the UK who will be showcasing their
designs at the final of the annual graduate fashion competition organised by Fashion
Awareness Direct in London on March 15th.  | | Lydia's
short-listed design |
It's
a big achievement for the girls who were short-listed after submitting a sketchbook
of ideas to the competition organisers last year. At
first, both girls couldn't quite believe they'd been chosen. Ellie describes the
moment she found out: "I found the letter at home but couldn't take it in
properly. I got really excited and then thought, 'but what if I read it wrong!'
I had to read it about four times to make sure!" The
young designers were given a brief to work from which was inspired by the Russian
cities St Petersburg and Moscow and the ballet company Russes. In order to keep
up with their college work, they decided to merge this brief with their college
project which was
based on the work of a famous designer of their choice.  | | Ellie's
finished garment |
This
presented the students with an extra challenge but it also had its upsides as
Ellie explains: "Lydia chose Alexander McQueen and I chose Helmut Lang which
is probably why we managed to get our own slant on the competition brief."
The
main inspiration for Lydia's short-listed design was a quote from Stravinsky's
ballet The Firebird. She created a dress with a corset bodice and full netted
skirt in natural creams and dusky pinks with embroidered gems and beads. A rabbit
fur-trim coat completes the look. Ellie's
design is a two-in-one dress/coat. The garment has a very long train which can
be pulled up and worn as a coat. She used organza together with metallic leather
and muslin strips to create the dress and took her inspiration from Rasputin and
the idea that all is not what it seems.  | | Lydia's
finished gown and coat |
The
girls have no say on how their work is presented within the show so they are looking
forward to seeing how their designs look: "Seeing our stuff on the catwalk
will be so amazing. They've got MAC doing the make-up and I think a big name like
Caprice is doing the hair," says Ellie. Now
that the hard work is over, all that is left is to look forward to the show, which
takes place at the prestigious Delfina Studios in London, and await the judges'
verdict. A judging panel chaired by Hilary Alexander, Fashion Editor of the Daily
Telegraph will choose three winners who will receive cash prizes and work placements
at leading fashion houses. It's
an anxious time for Ellie and Lydia but as Lydia explains, it's also been a fantastic
learning curve, "The competition has been an amazing experience so far and
I've learned a huge amount, in particular about how a fashion show comes together.
It's great being able to show my work and I'm looking forward to seeing my design
coming down the catwalk."  | | Ellie
and Lydia at work |
After
having a slight glimpse of the high fashion world, Lydia is keen to begin a career
in the industry: "At
the moment fashion's so strong and it's something that I've always wanted to do.
I definitely want to carry it on." Ellie
is equally enthusiastic: "I
think I want to do design and I definitely want to be in the fashion industry.
I don't think I'll mind which area I end up in." | 
