23rd September 2016
A fashion design student from East London saw her work showcased at London Fashion Week on 19th September after being named as a finalist in a competition for budding young fashion designers.Fashion Futures is a national competition run by award-winning charity Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD). The charity offers young people an opportunity to get ahead in creative careers, regardless of their personal circumstances, financial situation or ethnic background.
The 21 teenage finalists are the youngest designers to showcase at London Fashion Week and were shortlisted from over 100 teenagers who took part in FAD workshops earlier this year. They presented garments inspired by the artistic heritage of the Indian Subcontinent, fused with London street-style.
Eleanor Mutare, 17, from Barking & Dagenham College won the FAD Outstanding Achievement Award. Her design put a commercial twist on the traditional Indian sari and she was highly praised for her hard work, dedication and positive attitude throughout the project.
The winner of the FAD Outstanding Achievement Award was selected by both the jury panel and the FAD team and is awarded to an individual who has shown an exceptional level of commitment and development over the course of the project. Eleanor showed herself to be a conscientious and determined young designer with an infectious smile.
“The achievement award goes to a really creative, innovative twist on a very traditional idea.”said May Martin, former presenter of the BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee
Now in its fifteenth year, the Fashion Futures project sponsored by George at Asda and Natwest provides hands-on training and industry experience to 16-19 year olds, targeting disadvantaged young people with free places and mentoring support.
