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Trio top North East design challenge

Three lucky wannabe designers have won a once in a lifetime opportunity to take part in a mentoring scheme with internationally renowned designer Wayne Hemingway.

Jodie Brady from Newcastle, Kay Bowey from Bedlington and Liam Hunter from Pegswood, bagged a three month mentoring scheme with the Red or Dead founder and design guru after impressing judges at the Experiments in Fashion event hosted at Woodhorn Museum in Ashington.

The winners will visit Wayne’s design company - Hemingway Design - in London before embarking on their traineeship programme. At the end of the programme, their creations will be displayed in a publication and showcase event supported by Inspire Northumberland.

The project, developed by Wansbeck District Council’s Cultural Services department, aims to give young designers in the region a chance to kick-start their careers in fashion.

Wansbeck District Council Arts Development Officer, Juliana Mensah, said: “All the participants who attended the workshops were a joy to work with. They were set a tough task, to create a garment in just four days, and they rose to the challenge and produced work beyond everyone’s expectations.

“The three winners are extremely talented and were very deserving; we’re all looking forward to seeing their new creations as they’re toured around Northumberland and during the final exhibitions next spring.”

Images of all the participants’ designs will be exhibited at Woodhorn later this month and all contestants who took part in the initial workshops will have the opportunity to exhibit their creations as part of an event held at The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle in spring 2009.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .