Coventry University graduate wins top fashion award

A fashion graduate from Coventry University has won a major accolade at this year’s prestigious Midlands Fashion Awards.

Sarah King, 22, from Cambridge, took home the title of ‘Young Designer of the Year’ after impressing the judging panel of industry experts with her innovative range of outfits.

The awards, in which thirty two shortlisted fashion designers, stylists, make-up artists and accessory designers from across the region showcased their work, was hosted by ITV presenter Lucy Kite and took place on Friday 11 October at The Penthouse in Birmingham.

Sarah’s winning collection was inspired by the effects of seasonal changes upon natural plant life. She studied the changing surface appearance and textures of flowers and fruits over time which led her to design, using a variety of techniques and utilising different shapes and silhouette effects, a range of striking outfits all based around the theme of structural impairment.

The 22 year old hopes that the opportunities for increased exposure that may arise from winning the award will help her achieve her dreams of a full-time career in fashion.

Currently working in the hotel industry in her home town, Sarah is now saving up so that she can intern in a variety of fashion houses. In the future, she plans to forge a career in Illustration, design or garment construction.

Sarah, who will graduate this November with a first class degree in Fashion, said:

I was up against some really stiff competition - not least amongst my fellow graduates from Coventry University - so I’m absolutely delighted and very proud to have won this award. It has given me a great confidence boost as I pursue my career in the fashion industry.

I’m also thankful to everyone at Coventry University for their help and support during my time there. The fashion course at the university covers such a broad subject area and the technology at hand was invaluable.

Created in 2008, the Midlands Fashion Awards offer new and upcoming talent the opportunity to compete for three titles – Young Designer, Emerging Designer and Independent Designer – and to show off their work to a panel of fashion professionals.

This is the second year running that a graduate from the University has triumphed - Alice Moore bagged the Young Designer accolade in 2012 - and this year six students in total from Coventry School of Art and Design were selected to exhibit.  

Ann Muirhead, head of fashion at Coventry University, said:

We were thrilled that Sarah was chosen as Young Designer of the Year. She is very talented and a worthy winner of the award. Sarah’s success will give her the opportunity to promote her considerable design skills to a wider fashion audience.

I would also like to pay tribute to all of the Coventry University graduates who were selected to take part in this year’s show. We are very proud of all of them and hope that they too can take confidence from this experience as they move forward in their careers.

Further information about the BA (Hons) Fashion degree at Coventry University is available here.