A student from Leigh in Greater Manchester has been announced as the winner of national high street retailer, Hawes & Curtis’ 2016 student design competition.
Jodie Reynolds, a third year Fashion Design and Realisation student at Leeds College of Art and Design impressed the judges and the public, who voted for their preferred design from a shortlist of six finalists. Jodie drew inspiration from the ocean and archways for her cotton spot shirt which features a detachable cowl neck to dress up or down, perfect for both work and play.
The 19-year-old’s design will now be produced by Hawes & Curtis and go on sale in the Manchester King St store as well as the retailers Leeds and Birmingham outlets as part of its Spring 2017 range. In addition, Jodie will also gain a prestigious work placement with the Jermyn Street shirt specialist working alongside its experienced designers.
Commenting on the inspiration for her design and winning the competition, Jodie said: “The colours of the shirt were inspired by the ocean. Waves were at the front of my mind and that’s where the strong blue and white came from. The collar was inspired by archways and the Tama Art University Library was a great source for my research.
“To see my shirt created and in store on sale will be a great achievement. I love fashion design and once I graduate next year, I’m keen to pursue a career within the industry and this will be a great asset to my portfolio and CV.”
Hawes & Curtis’ regional manager Sarah Meese said: “Hawes & Curtis is keen to support up and coming fashion students and give them an edge in a very competitive industry.
“The standard of the competition was extremely high. Jodie’s design really stood out and both the judges and customers loved the versatility of the shirt. This was a difficult brief to rethink the classic business shirt and bring it in to the modern day. The detachable cowl neck means the shirt is more formal once it is removed and perfect for the office, but when featured adds softness and is ideal for a more relaxed look.”
The Hawes & Curtis 2016 brief titled Modern Business challenged the students to design a shirt for the modern day business man and woman, taking in to consideration their stressful busy lifestyle. The perfect shirt needed to take the target audience from boardroom to bar, and deal with all that modern living throws at them whilst keeping smart and professional.
