PRESS RELEASE - NCAD Student William Shannon Doyle wins €3,500 River Island Bursary
William Shannon Doyle (22) from Templeogue in Dublin was today (13.04.2016) chosen as the winner of the River Island 2016 Fashion Design Bursary.
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NCAD Student William Shannon Doyle
Wins €3,500 River Island Bursary
William will receive a €3,500 bursary and a paid 3 month internship in the leading high street fashion retailer’s design studio in London.
This is the thirteenth year of the River Island Bursary, which offers final year fashion design students at the National College of Art and Design the chance to win a paid, three-month internship at the company’s cutting edge design studio in London. The highly sought after bursary provides the winning graduate with an invaluable first step into the tough and challenging commercial fashion world. Past winners have seen their designs sold in River Island stores worldwide.
This year River Island asked NCAD students to create a capsule collection for River Island Spring Summer 2016. The students then submitted portfolios of designs, which were judged by River Island Design Controller Lucy Moller. Lucy, who was the 2006 winner of the Bursary, was very impressed with the high standard of the designs submitted: ‘The River Island Bursary launched my fashion career 10 years ago. It is always so exciting to see new and exciting talent emerging. Our industry thrives on fresh ideas and it is so important to inject new energy and life into our design studio and creative teams. We are delighted to be amongst the first to witness and embrace the emergence of some of Ireland’s brightest new stars in the fashion industry.”
William’s winning design has been inspired by 1950s travel wear. Vintage luggage inspired the finishings for the garments where functionality meets luxury. The outfit comprises of a red skirt with black detailing, a black top and bomber jacket, complemented with a silk clutch bag.
Angela O’Kelly, Head of Design for Body and Environment, NCAD, commented: "The ongoing support of River Island is central to the activities of the Fashion area at NCAD. Each year the River Island project advances skillsets in the students, developing knowledge and expertise in key areas of innovative high street fashion design. The bursary and placement in the River Island design studios in London offer invaluable experience for our graduates and a superb launch pad into the fashion industry."
The bursary, first launched in 2004, has proved to be extremely successful for aspiring Irish designers. The majority of past winners have gone on to become full time members of the 100 strong design team. River Island is dedicated to employing talented young fashion graduates and through the NCAD bursary in Ireland they continue to fulfill this promise.
