Six cutting edge young designers, who are stars in the making, won awards at the innovative FDC Young Designer Awards 2007 on Saturday 27th October 2007 at the Park Crescent Conference Centre International Students House, 229 Great Portland Street Westminster W1W 5PN.

The winners were, Yuliya Krpo aged only 14 winning 1st place FDC Young Designer 2007 and Barnardo’s Young Designer of the Year 2007 (13-20 years category) Second place went to Oanh Tran aged 16 (13-20 years category)

Khulekani Mswelli aged 23 won the FDC Avant-Garde Designer 2007 award and Second place went to Herani Ethiopia aged 23 they presented their exciting designs on the catwalk in front of renowned judges, press, members of the fashion industry, their peers and the public.

The prestigious 2007 Tyler Media/Children Are the Future Youth Award, (presented by Christie Dinham of Tyler Media USA who is the founder FashionHow.) this year for the first time two extremely talented young designers, Megan Crook and Herani Ethiopia both designers have been given the opportunity to debut their collections in the International designers show at Bryant Park at New York Fashion Week! And in the Caribbean at Barbados Fashion Week, this is truly a once in a life time opportunity.

These exciting awards have been established by knitwear designer Joanna Marcella in an aim to help raise profile of exceptionally gifted young designers from multicultural backgrounds aged 9 – 25 years. This innovative event gives young fashion designers of tomorrow, a stage today; this year’s finalists came from all areas of the UK and from a range of diverse ethnic backgrounds.

On the panel of judges for this year's awards were: Christie Dinham of Tyler Media (USA), Jennifer Williams-Baffoe of Willbaforce Ltd, Hayleigh Amos of Fashion Enter representing Jenny Holloway, Des Cooke of Barnardo’s and George Shire, a Senior Lecturer at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design

Joanna Marcella says "I was amazed at how each of the 18 finalists embraced this year’s theme which was 'fashion meets art'. The Young designers this year exceeded all expectations and once again proved that very young designers have the potential to be top fashion leaders".

This design award is the only national awards in the UK that has given several young fashion designers, who are still studying for their fashion degrees, an opportunity to showcase in New York Fashion Week and Caribbean Fashion Week, to an audience of international Buyers, Fashion Editors, Press and Celebrities and work with a team of prominent fashion stylists, hair, make-up artists backstage, and the same international models that walk the runway for the noted fashion houses such as Baby Phat, Calvin Klein, Donna Karen, Marc Jacobs, Luella Bartley and Tommy Hilfiger.

Joanna continues "Our designers have been catapulted straight from the Young Designer Awards right on to the international fashion stage".

Fashion Enter has long supported the event and was delighted to be again invited to sit on the panel of judges to help select two winners from each category and to also select a winning designer's collection which will then be showcased at the Enter Boutiques in Croydon and Barking. The winner also receives a year's free membership to Fashion Enter Ltd which is £150 plus VAT.

Award winners will receive mentoring and support accessing resources, such as, public relations, marketing, advice and general business support, as they choose their next step into the fashion industry, launch and build their new fashion companies. The FDC Young Designer Awards is set to thrive as it moves into its sixth year, searching the nation for the hottest undiscovered design talent.
Email:Young Designer Awards