Press Release: NCAD fashion students awarded top prizes at home and abroad
Students of the National College of Art and Design have recently been awarded some of the most prestigious prizes at home and abroad.
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, 16th September 2016
NCAD fashion students awarded top prizes at home and abroad
Students of the National College of Art and Design have recently been awarded some of the most prestigious prizes at home and abroad, including the Mittelmoda Fashion Award and the Dublin Fashion Festival Young Designer of the Year Award.
Speaking today (16.09.16), Angela O’Kelly, Head of Design for Body and Environment at NCAD, said: “We are delighted to welcome the news of Aideen Gaynor and JJ Donnelly’s recent successes, and indeed we would like to congratulate all of the NCAD graduates and students who were shortlisted. It is wonderful to see the products of the knowledge, skills and talent that our Fashion Design graduates have acquired and developed during their time in NCAD on display.
“For their work to be acknowledged and awarded at some of the biggest fashion competitions nationally and internationally is a testament to the quality of their collections and their hard work throughout their time in NCAD and beyond. I look forward to seeing them follow in the footsteps of our illustrious and award-winning alumni and play a key role in placing Irish design firmly on the global map.”
NCAD BA Fashion graduate, Aideen Gaynor was recently awarded the ‘Absolute Prize for the Most Creative Collection’ which is one of the top prizes at Mittelmoda, an international fashion competition for young graduates.
There were 14,320 entries to the international contest, now in its 23rd year, represented by 647 fashion schools in 66 countries and 24 finalists. Aideen was the youngest finalist and up against mainly MA students, and was also featured in Italian Vogue.
Earlier this year, Aideen, who has previously completed internships with John Rocha and Simone Rocha, was awarded the Brown Thomas ‘Designer to Watch’ prize for the graduate collection ‘Hard Boiled Wonderland’. The prize consisted of a €4,000 bursary, an installation of designs in ‘Create’ at Brown Thomas in July 2016 and also a mentoring programme with the management team.
NCAD student JJ Donnelly was awarded the Dublin Fashion Festival Young Designer of the Year award at an event last Wednesday, 7th September. The Young Designer of the Year was awarded as part of the Dublin Fashion Festival. 12 graduates were shortlisted representing fashion colleges around the country, with six finalists coming from NCAD including Nino Sanaia, Grainne Walley, Karla Bowden, Aisling Duff and Ailbhe Griffin.
Judges at this year’s awards included: Irish Independent Fashion Editor, Bairbre Power; renowned fashion photographer Barry McCall; TV3 Xposé producer Debbie O’Donnell; owner of The Design Centre, Ashling Kilduff; head of personal and private shopping at Brown Thomas, Caroline Hanratty; and head of personal and private shopping at Arnotts, Clara Halpin.
Along with the coveted title prize, JJ Donnelly also received the opportunity to shoot a fashion portfolio with fashion photographer Barry McCall and a €2,000 bursary from West Coast Cooler, one of the events sponsors.
Further information about NCAD’s BA (Hons) Degree in Fashion Design is available at: https://www.ncad.ie/undergraduate/school-of-design/fashion-design/.
ENDS
Contact: Sarah Harte / Laura Harmon, DHR Communications, Tel: 01-4200580 / 087-9858259 / 086-1738455
Notes to Editors:
• Angela O’Kelly, Head of Design for Body and Environment at NCAD, and NCAD students JJ Donnelly and Aideen Gaynor are available for media interview on request.
