Creative Connections: Selvedge at New Designers 2025
On Friday 4 July, the Selvedge team made their mark at New Designers' milestone 40th anniversary celebration, bringing their expertise to London's Business Design Centre for what proved to be an inspiring showcase of emerging UK creative talent.
L-R: Catherine Harris, Corinne Julius and Katerina Knight.
Assistant to the editor Katerina Knight, textile conservator Catherine Harris, and features writer Corinne Julius took centre stage with their careers panel "Selvedge: Beyond the Studio: Navigating Multifaceted Careers in Design" on Friday 4 July. The session offered invaluable insights into the diverse pathways available within the design industry, drawing from Selvedge's unique position at the intersection of craft, art, and commercial textile practice.
The panel's timing couldn't have been more perfect, coinciding with New Designers' special focus on celebrating four decades of nurturing creative talent. This year's exhibition featured notable alumni including Benjamin Hubert, Hannah Martin, Margo Selby, Jo Barnard, Peter Ting, and Ikuko Iwamoto - testament to the show's enduring role as a launching pad for design careers.
Nancy Una Simmons. Winner of the Selvedge Magazine Prize.
Selvedge's presence extended beyond education into recognition, with the team awarding a coveted sponsored prize to Nancy Una Simmons from Carmarthen School of Art. Her winning textiles impressed judges with their thoughtful combination of handcraft processes, masterfully marrying ikat techniques with natural dye methods while drawing inspiration from traditional blanket patterns. Simmons' victory secures her an editorial feature in Selvedge magazine, scheduled for release in 2025.
The Selvedge team also bestowed three "Selvedge Loves" honours across the exhibition, recognising exceptional work by Leah Gasson, Robin Tai, and Amelia Fletcher. These acknowledgements highlight the diversity of contemporary textile practice that resonates with Selvedge's discerning editorial vision.
Woven textiles from Amelia Fletcher's 'Revival' collection. Displayed at New Designers 2025.
New Designers' 40th anniversary represents a celebration of continuous innovation in UK design education. The excitement and opportunity the show generates was perfectly captured by alumni Margo Selby, who reflected on her own graduate experience: "New Designers was so exciting when you're a graduate, because all of a sudden you're meeting all these industry professionals, and you've got people interested in your work. I actually sold a design to Missoni, which was really wonderful. I think my fondest memory of New Designers, when I was exhibiting, was just the excitement and the buzz when the show opened."
Margo Selby. Textile Designer and Founder of Margo Selby Studio. New Designers 1999 Alumni. Photo by Mark Cocksedge
Event director Sally Bent emphasised the show's enduring significance: "Year after year, New Designers proves its vital role in the design community – not just in showcasing graduate work, but in creating opportunities for connection between new talent and industry professionals. Many collaborations, careers and partnerships have been born here." She continued, "We're confident that this year's graduating cohort will continue the legacy, just as those before them have. Our show is more than just an exhibition – it's a launchpad for future careers. Here's to the next 40 years!"
With over 3,000 graduates showcasing their work annually across fashion, textiles, furniture, product design, and illustration, New Designers continues to prove its vital role in connecting emerging talent with industry professionals. Selvedge's active participation reinforces the publication's dedication to supporting the next generation of textile practitioners and designers who will shape the industry's future.
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Photo Credits:
Lead Image: New Designers’ alumni. From left to right: Ikuko Iwamoto, Benjamin Hubert, Jo Barnard, Hannah Martin, Elliot Brook, Margo Selby, Darren Appiagyei and Peter Ting (Credit: Mark Cocksedge)