The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Design duo pipped at the post at fashion awards
Women were nominated for young fashion designer accolade
The Scots invaded the fashion capital in a fleet of Maserati sports cars to celebrate the annual Scottish Fashion awards last night.
Two Dundee women were nominated for the Young Fashion Designer of the Year but both left empty handed.
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design graduate Kirsty Marshall, creator of the Lime Blonde brand, and coat-maker Kerrie Aldo were pipped at the post by Glaswegian designer, illustrator and radical creative Charles Jeffrey.
The glittering ceremony was held at the five-star Rosewood Hotel in London.
Designer of the Year went to Christopher Kane, who set up his brand in 2006 after graduating from Central Saint Martin’s College, London.
The North Lanarkshire-born designer’s company has since grown into a major fashion brand.
Scot Jean Campbell, the face of Burberry, took Model of the Year, rising star Roslyne McQuillan scooped Graduate of the Year and the three young friends who created the global sunglasses brand Tens – Kris Reid and Marty Bell, who grew up in the Highlands, and Sheffield-born Tom Welsh – took Accessory Designer of the Year.
Guests at the event included Glasgowborn singer-songwriter Tallia Storm, Tennis star Andy Murray’s mother Judy and stars Pixie Lott and Alesha Dixon.
Awards founder Tessa Hartmann used the event to make a plea to “stop arguing about political borders and instigate a culture of optimism and even risk-taking”.
She encouraged the assembled Scots to “start thinking bigger” and said that “Scottishness is essential to British identity and no more so apparent than that of Scottish fashion.”
The event was co-hosted by Scottish Secretary David Mundell, who told the audience: “These awards illustrate that Scotland punches above its weight in the global fashion market place and that’s something that I am thrilled to be a part of.”