Young designer will showcase'¨her designs at prestigious show

On Monday, February 22, Mary Maggs, 21, will join 16 other shortlisted designers from universities across the UK to compete for £1,000 and the attention of key industry and fashion press.

This year’s FAD Competition challenged students to “slow down” and “say goodbye to Google” - to “discover the extraordinary and the fantastic in the everyday”.

More than 100 entrants from 40 UK colleges and universities took part, with
just 17 selected for the final show.

Mary, who is currently studying Fashion Design at UCA Epsom, was inspired by the Buckinghamshire landscape and discovering the “back-to-the-land movement” of 1920’s Kibbo Kift, and used these inspirations in her entry.

Talking about the FAD Competition brief she said: “I thought the brief was really exciting and open to creative ideas which could explore a sense of place.

“It allowed a personal connection and I liked the idea of incorporating crafting techniques into my designs.”

She has until the end of January to create two garments for the catwalk. Before to the show the finalists’ work will be judged by a panel of industry experts, who will select one overall winner and two runners-up.

The 2016 jury panel will include Jacquie Annesley, editor of The Times Style Magazine; Julian Fuller, head of design at Debenhams; Jane Kellock, founder and creative director at Unique Style Platform; Professor Clare Johnston, former head of textiles at the RCA and 2015 FAD Competition finalist and one-to-watch, Olivia Overton.

Now in its 15th year the FAD Competition continues to challenge fashion students to think outside the commercial box; encouraging them to look to art, culture and wider social trends for inspiration.

The 2016 FAD Competition final will take place at Fashion Scout in the Freemason’s Hall, Covent Garden, as part of the official schedule for London Fashion Week.

See Mary’s entries on the FAD website: www.fad.org.uk/archives/41402016_finalists/index.php.