Bradford College

Students ‘Bag’ Awards

Fashion students at Bradford College ‘bagged’ top prizes in a prestigious design competition for sponsors of Graduate Fashion Week – River Island.  Selected as winners for the re-cycling competition, first year students Jade Anderson and Jade Hannam designed bags created from scraps picked up in charity shops.  Second year student (and runner up) Saadha Ali, was also selected for her creation of an eye catching carrier bag design for River Island. 

Coming here to study from the Maldives, Saadha explained:  “It feels amazing!  Ever since my childhood it’s been my dream to undertake a fashion design course at a UK institution.  Getting selected as a runner-up at this competition, while undertaking this course, is therefore really beyond my dreams.”

Jane Anderson added: “I was shocked when my design was selected.  When I told my mum she was jumping up and down.” Jades inspiration for her bag was influenced by a 1960s design.  She created her design from a dress and used hooped earrings to complete her bag.
Jade Hannam transformed a leather jacket into a tote bag, complete with flowers. She explained: "I don't know where my strengths lie in fashion yet. Alexander McQueen is my favorite designer. I prefer quirky designs."

The students beat off stiff competition to scoop the prestigious prize.  Their designs will be showcased at Graduate Fashion Week, which has successfully launched the careers of British designers: Stella McCartney, Julien Macdonald, Hussein Chalayan, Antonio Beradi, and Owen Gaster.   Every year the event attracts fashion scouts from across the globe, all looking for the next in new generation talent. 

The students' designs were selected from hundreds of entries across the country.  The judges included: Celebrity Stylist Chloe Beeney, Fashion Designer Orla Kiely and River Island.    Speaking about Saadha’s design, Orla said: “This design stood out amongst the others. It has a spontaneous quality that works and the splats of colour give it plenty of attitude. The mood is spot on for Graduate Fashion Week.”
Commenting on the re-cycle designs, Judge Chloe added: "An inventive use of recycled materials and out-of-the-box thinking have proved you can both recycle and be fashionable."
Course director Angela Loftus is delighted at her students' success. She said: "They have worked incredibly hard this year, which has paid off with such a rewarding achievement."