The Awards 2011!

It only seems like yesterday when we had our first team meeting about the Midlands Fashion Designer Awards. Within a blink of an eye, we suddenly found ourselves fast forward to six months later, sponsored by Claire’s and with many other sponsors getting on board all supporting what we do. It all finally came together on a Friday night at the beautiful venue at Fazeley Studios. In a past life, the venue was a church and now a creative hub but for one night only, it was transformed into the MFDA Fashion Show venue, filled to the brim with eager fashion lovers awaiting the talent to emerge down the runway.

It may have appeared calm at the surface but backstage was bustling with models, designers, hair and make up teams, all frantically busy perfecting and prepping the models. Before long, our presenters Adele and Jamie started the show and the models swiftly took to the runway.

 As a team all based in Birmingham, we are all aware of the budding talent that exists in the Midlands and we all know that great fashion design is not solely confined to London. Our yearly event proves that the Midlands has a lot to offer and we could not be prouder seeing all the designers, who are all at different stages in their fashion careers, take to the stage showcasing their hard work and hopefully gain the exposure that they all deserve.

Our fabulous judges who made the hard decision on the winners were Viv Whelan, Bespoke Fashion Designer and finalist of Project Catwalk (that show needs to come back!), the always friendly, Alan Sharman from The Alan Sharman Model Agency, the lovely Holly Bracciale, Fashion Editor at 69 Magazine and Hind Hadj, Claire’s Head of Marketing. Congratulations to everyone but also to our winners, Jade Hope (Ready to wear), Charlotte Fortescue (Haute Couture), Ryan Kailla (Evening Wear) and Yatri Pabari (Emerging Designers).

The evening was a wild success and we are over the moon at how well it all went. It’s easy to over look the fact that the event is volunteer led, so a big thank you to everyone who contributed their time and effort to make the event happen and to Jenny Eason whose is the ultra organised woman behind the shows. One thing is for sure, the event is getting bigger and a larger venue is most definitely needed for next year! Bring it on 2012!

The Midlands Fashion Designer Awards will be hosted by SKY TV presenter Adele Rushton and Jamie Roche and is one of the biggest fashion event on the Midlands fashion calendar.  The catwalk show will featured fresh and innovative fashion designers from across the Midlands and will take place on Friday 21^st October at the Fazeley Studios, 191 Fazeley Street, Birmingham, B5 5ES. 

The catwalk show will be styled by Fashion Stylist and Journalist, Lizzy Gardner and the stylish event will consist of a drinks reception, goody bag, free beauty and styling and the fashion show itself. To attend this stylish event we are giving away one pair of ticket for you to attend the show. 

We are also pleased to have teamed up with the Clothes Show Live for your chance to win a pair of ticket to attend their show and exhibition at the NEC, Birmingham 2^nd to the 7^th December, for your chance to win a pair of these fantastic tickets, simply answer the following question.

Where will the Midlands Fashion Designer Awards 2011 take place?

A             The NIA               

B             Fazeley Studios                               

C             NEC Birmingham

Email your answer to info@myfashiondesigners.co.uk  with your full name and address including post code.

Competition will close at midnight on Saturday 15^th October 2011.  Two correct entries will be drawn at random and the winners will be awarded a pair of one of the following tickets. Winners will be announced via email on the 17^th October 2011. Good Luck!

Tickets to the Midlands Fashion Designer Awards are set for Friday 21st October and we are offering one pair of VIP tickets to attend the show.

Clothes Show Tickets are set for Friday 2^nd December. Tickets non-refundable and there is no cash alternative. Tickets are Standard £27.00 but do include a goody bag. Tickets can be reached through winner’s certificate and code only.

Show Presenter Adele Rushton is a TV presenter and model based in the UK. Adele presents live on Gems TV on Sky and has also presented at last year’s Clothes Show Live, she has also worked on various commercial modelling campaigns.  After attending the Midlands Fashion Designer Awards as a ticketed guest for the past three year’s we have now invited her along to see the other side of how the event works.  Adele has been actively involved in the preperations for this years show and we welcome her as show presenter.

Yull Shoes specialise in high quality classic and timeless shoes. With names such as ‘Ascot’, ‘Green Park’, ‘Silverstone’ and ‘Hoxton’, each design has been inspired by a British place or pastime and with a patriotic wink, each shoe is emblazoned with a small Union Jack flag on its base.

Their philosophy is ‘style over fashion’ Yull is a break from the current trend-following flow of impracticable and ephemeral shoe brand and fills a much-needed gap in the market.

Their full range of stockists can be found on their website or through several retailers, Yull will be exhibiting at the Midlands Fashion Designer Awards 2011where consumers will be able to make choose from a range of shoes and colours to purchase.   Yull can be bought online at www.yull.co.uk or through several retailers.

Lufeianna Wang has studied fashion extensively both in Taiwan where she originates but also at world famous, Central Saint Martins. Alongside these impressive qualifications, she spent a year working as a tailor on Saville Row where she picked up valuable technical skills. She also established her own independent boutique in Taiwan in 2004 and also won third place at the Ordifen sponsored lingerie category at China Fashion Week 2007.

Creating haute-couture womenswear, she aims to create innovative designs that can change the silhouette of the wearer in unique ways with particular attention to innovative pattern cutting and high-tech fabrics which create an almost futuristic element to her designs. She is particularly inspired by the architectural shapes and structures by Zaha Hadid and the vivid shapes created by the late Alexander McQueen. Not only is she inspired by futuristic designs, she is also inspired by her childhood in Thailand where the unique forms and hidden depths in Nature play an important part in her designs.

Lufeianna hopes to eventually exhibit at London Fashion Week and establish her label in the UK or Taiwan and gain exposure through the media in magazine editorials.  Her designs can be purchased on a made-to-order basis and will also be available on her website soon. We look forward to seeing Lufeianna’s collections at the Midlands Fashion Designer Awards 2011.

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