Graham’s Textile Achievements in the Spotlight
When Graham Preston, Assessor Trainer for Textiles Fashion at Bradford School of Arts & Media, enhanced his expertise gained over many years of experience in the textile industry by improving his qualifications, he did not expect international interest in his work. Yet when he graduated with a BA (Hons) Art & Design in 2010, after studying
part-time, his final collection of art-deco influenced fashion garments has created quite a stir.
The June edition of Machine Knitting Monthly has selected Graham’s degree work to highlight his achievements, devoting a page to a spotlight feature about him and featuring two more photographs of his designs on the front cover and inside. The magazine also mentioned his previous success in the prestigious Bradford Textile Society Competition 2009/10 where he won a third prize and two commendations.
Graham is delighted and he explained, “The magazine is international with a circulation including Australia, New Zealand, America and Europe, so this article is fantastic recognition for myself and the work that is being done at the College.”
You can read the article here (copyright Machine Knitting Monthly who kindly allowed us to publish this pdf version here)
Hardworking Graham has not rested on his laurels and has already achieved even greater success in the 2010/11 Bradford Textile Society Competition. Graham said, “At the awards ceremony in May I received the £250 second prize in the B1 British Wool Marketing Board Award (for a fabric of any construction for fashion, including accessories, or for interiors, made from British Wool, and which enhances the intrinsic qualities of natural British Wool). I also gained third prize of £150 in the K1 Clothworkers’ Award (for knitted fabric for men’s or women’s wear, including accessories). These prizes are very significant as the competition attracts entries from around the country. My second prize was really a further development of ‘The Machine of Inspiration’ work from my degree show; while for the third prize I really came out of my comfort zone to make more sculptural knits which could be used for fashion accessories and embellishments.”
Graham continued, “I am still developing my portfolio and work. I will enter the Bradford Textile Society competition again next year and I am currently preparing a submission for an Italian based textile competition. I want to keep progressing and I am thinking of doing an MA here at College in 2012. Continuously developing my skills and techniques is not just for my own personal improvement but also keeps my ideas current and helps me to assist student skills progression.”
You can see Graham’s prize winning work here:
BTS Competition 2010/11 British Wool Marketing Board 2nd Prize
BTS Competition 2010/11 Clothworkers' Award 3rd Prize
