Spotlight on the Fantastic Diet Coke Design Award Winner and Runner Up's at Belfast FASHIONWEEK!
Monday, November 04, 2013
Diet Coke Design Award Winner Gordon Donaldson with his winning design "Pink Ice".
One of the best parts of West Coast Cooler Belfast FASHIONWEEK is it's commitment to encouraging our local design talent. Over the years FASHIONWEEK has seen many Northern Irish designers grace their über stylish catwalk, not least the internationally acclaimed designer J.W. Anderson, as well as top Irish designers such as Una Rodden, Zoe Boomer and many others. With this in mind the Diet Coke Design Award was created four years ago in a bid to encourage anyone with an interest in fashion design to gain valuable experience in the world of fashion design!
As I sat FROW at FASHIONWEEK's Local Designer Catwalk Show I was totally blown away by the level of diversity and creativity from the three Diet Coke finalists!
As a teenager in the 90's i've a real soft spot for the movie "Clueless" and I loved the quirky influence of the bright and fluffy fashion's from that era in runner up Lucy McElwaine's striking ensemble "Fashionably Clueless"!
While runner up Scott Wilson went for an edgy look in his "30 Years of Fashion" design! His design perfectly blended iconic fashion trends from the past 30 years, with the iconography associated with Diet Coke!
But it was budding designer Gordon Donaldson from Newcastle, County Down who was announced as the winner of the fourth Diet Coke Design Award!
His unique design of 'Pink Ice' which consisted of a pastel pink a-line skirt and grey sheer chiffon top, which caught the attention of the judges on the evening!
Gordon said: "The concept of my design was to demonstrate the best of the past 30 years of fashion and to create an outfit which was both classic and sophisticated through making use of classic cuts, colours and sumptuous fabrics. It's stylish, sophisticated and timeless and I think that ties in nicely with the Diet Coke brand and everything it represents."
Winning the competition has provided a platform to Gordon to further his dress making and design skills as Diet Coke will fund a trip to attend a short course at the London College of Fashion in the incoming year. He will also take part in a photoshoot with their winning creation by top fashion photographer, Khara Pringle.
Aoife Nagle, Senior Brand Activation Manager at Diet Coke said, "We had many applications to this year's Diet Coke Design Award and we were encouraged to see so many which were of a very high standard. Gordon has a very bright future as a designer and on behalf of our fashionable brand we are thrilled to aid his progression as he continues to carve a successful career path."
Aoife Nagle, Senior Brand Activation Manager at Diet Coke said, "We had many applications to this year's Diet Coke Design Award and we were encouraged to see so many which were of a very high standard. Gordon has a very bright future as a designer and on behalf of our fashionable brand we are thrilled to aid his progression as he continues to carve a successful career path."
I for one cannot wait to see what Gordon and his fellow runner ups produce in the future, and massive congratulations to Gordon for producing the winning design!
Massive thanks to Lisa Bell at CMPR for providing the press release and all relevant imagery.
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