PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FOR FASHION STUDENT
Louise beats competition with focus on sustainability
UNIVERSITY student Louise Rutter has won a prestigious award for a campaign focusing on the impact of ‘fast fashion.’
The BA (Hons) Fashion student at Staffordshire University scooped the ‘Considered Fashion Award’ at Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) during a special awards ceremony in London.
The annual event is the world’s largest showcase of BA fashion talent and Louise was chosen from students across the country in recognition of her work to promote sustainable fashion.
The Sentinel revealed on Thursday how Louise and fellow fashion student Charlotte Trow had been recognised for their final year projects by being shortlisted for awards.
Louise, aged 24 from Longton, said: “I’m so proud of myself for winning the award, especially in an area I’m so passionate about. My whole project is based around sustainability, and I’ve tried to ensure that the way I work aligns with that, so to be recognised for this is amazing.”
Louise created an advertising campaign as part of her final year project and produced a film in collaboration with film and drama students.
The short film highlights how the overproduction of garments is destroying natural environments with fashion waste, including new and unworn garments, discarded in landfills and deserts, damaging the natural ecosystems that live there.
The film is supported by a poem that also focuses on the fast fashion brands, and how they are contributing towards the damage seen within the environment.
After being shortlisted, Louise had to present her work to a panel of industry experts for the final judging before the winners were revealed.
Dr Julie King, Executive Dean of the School of Digital, Technologies and Arts, said: “GFW has been the springboard for so many of our amazingly talented British designers including Stella Mccartney, so it is a tremendous opportunity for Louise to start her career in fashion with such a fantastic award.
“She beat off the competition from 40 other fashion institutions and has shown how important a sustainability focus is in the fashion industry today.”
The BA (Hons) Fashion degree at Staffordshire University is designed to help students develop their knowledge and skills in a broad range of subject areas, including the fundamentals of fashion business, creative design, communication and technical practices.
Rachel Heeley, Senior Lecturer in Fashion, said: “This is a huge achievement for Louise. She is such a dedicated student who always gives her all. She really deserves to be recognised for her achievements at this national event.
“Her work on sustainable fashion is such an important area, something our course here at Staffordshire encourages.”