Northumbria student is top of the shops

A Northumbria University student has been named as an inaugural winner in the Graduate Design Programme – the latest initiative to support graduate talent.

Sally Hewett, a final year Fashion student, won the Topshop award with a prize of a 12 month paid internship.

Sally said: “I was really shocked when I heard I won especially as people from all universities entered. I am so pleased to have this opportunity as it is a company I have always wanted to work for.”

Students were invited to submit a moodboard demonstrating strong commercial awareness and understanding of the TopShop brand and then design a 15-piece capsule collection, showing key silhouettes, fabrics and colour choices. Sally’s womenswear collection was based on working class male ideals and teddy boys.

A selection committee comprised of Topshop or Topman representatives invited applicants to a judging meeting to talk through their design project. The calibre of work was extremely high and a lengthy decision process was involved before the final decision on the winner was reached.

Mary Homer, Managing Director of Topshop, said; “The Graduate Design Programme in partnership with the British Fashion Council is a natural extension of our work with design talent in the UK; it allows us to support emerging and graduate designers. The winner will have the opportunity to develop as a designer and gain valuable first-hand experience of a business through their time at Topshop."

This is the first year that TopShop and Topman have partnered with the British Fashion Council and the BFC Colleges Council on a graduate initiative and reinforces their ongoing support of emerging talent.

Date posted: May 14, 2013