The event is a highlight on the industry’s calendar and is regarded as Europe’s top bridal awards ceremony; this year there were many thousands of entries and nominations across all 17 awards categories. The Student Bridal Designer of the Year category is open to learners studying on BTEC courses right up to full BA (Hons) degrees nationally; competition is fierce with college learners competing with students from universities and specialist art schools.

 

The Hull College learners are studying for a variety of qualifications: John Taylor, Daisy Slater, Hannah Coates, Samantha Mason and Lucy Basset are all BTEC National Diploma Art and Design (Fashion and Clothing) students who are studying at the College’s Park Street Centre which focuses on the College’s Further Education (post 16) provision. Shamima Begum is currently in her final year of a BA (Hons) Degree in Applied Creative Design and Fashion at Hull College’s Hull School of Art and Design which houses the College’s Higher Education (post 18) provision.

 

All learners have been nominated in the Best Student Designer category; the category has 15 entries, six of which are Hull College learners.

 

Harrogate College, which became part of the Hull College group also have a shorlisted learner, Simone Fisher.

 

Daisy Slater is thrilled to be shortlisted,

 

“It is such an honour to be recognised in this way, I love studying at the College and hope to progress into a career in the fashion industry. It is exciting enough to attend the awards which showcase the best in the bridal business but to be shortlisted is amazing.”

 

Tutor Laura Peebles Brown continues,

 

“We are so proud of our learners and the standard of their work, to have six successful entries from the College out of a total of fifteen in the category is brilliant and both learners and tutors have worked hard to achieve this.

It is a national competition and our learners are the only ones in the area to be shortlisted. There is some stiff competition as the competition is open to all students studying towards BTEC, degree and masters level nationwide. We are looking forward to the awards and hope to see one of our learners shine!”

 

The project is run over a two week period during which the students have to research, design and present solutions to a theme given by the bridal buyer magazine. Hull College’s BTEC has an excellent record at the Bridal Buyers Competition, having won first prize for the last two years, and before that runner up in two consecutive years. 

Learner James Scarah won the competition in 2008 and has since completed his BTEC National Diploma in fashion and clothing at Hull College and has taken up a place at the prestigious St Martin’s College of Art and Design in London.

His dress won the best student design award in the competition, which is regarded as the bridal industry's most prestigious prize.

 

The trophies for this year’s winner will be presented at a glittering awards ceremony at Harrogate International Exhibition Centre on Monday 15^th March 2010, during the British Bridal Exhibition. The evening will be hosted by the Bridal Buyer Magazine and more than 500 leading names within the UK bridal industry are expected to attend.

 

Susi Rogol, Bridal Buyer’s editor, said: “We’ve had a terrific response to the 2010 awards, far greater than ever before, all the learners at Hull College have done brilliantly to get shortlisted from such a huge field, it is unusual to have such a high number of entries from one educational institution shortlisted. Britain’s bridal industry is the most creative in the world, and we’re delighted we’re able to organise this annual ceremony so that we can shine the spotlight on the wealth of talent and innovation it displays.”

 

She continues,

 

“We are also thrilled that multi award winner Ian Stuart has continued his sponsorship of this key awards category this year. Ian is passionate about nurturing new talents and continues to encourage the industry to take on up and coming designers.”

 

 

For further information contact Olivia Kerridge, PR and Communications Officer on 01482 598945 or alternatively email her on okerridge@hull-college.ac.uk

 

If you want to find out more about the awards, go to www.bridalbuyerawards.com