David Band Textiles Award
Image: Hena Begum.
Selvedge’s editor Polly Leonard is one of the judges for the Graduate Fashion Foundation’s David Band Textiles Award 2020, with textiles designer, Davinder Madaher. The GFF has announced the top three finalists: Charlotte Banks, Manchester Metropolitan University; Hena Begum, University of Portsmouth and Amy Goacher, Kingston University London. The GFF changed the awards process this year to solely digital submission and to take into account the closure of university studios and facilities. But, the awards remain as important as ever to students and industry. The David Band Textiles Award recognises the exploration of the creative textile process. Finalists must show a distinctive or thought-provoking fashion statement in printed or constructed textiles, successful control of the quality of colour and pattern and challenge the established boundaries of technical excellence. Two of the finalists talk about the inspiration for their entries:
Charlotte Banks
Florence is the centre of the Renaissance and the countless galleries, palaces, gardens, buildings and statues that we see around the city first came to life in the 16th century. I discovered the Medici family, whose power and wealth as the rulers of the grand dukedom of the region of Florence, has fascinated us for centuries. The Medici family were generous patrons of art. Their story has become my narrative for my collection whilst their surroundings have informed the fabrication, from colour and print to the very processes I have chosen to use.
Image: Amy Goacher.
Hena Begum
Modestly focuses on modest clothing and aims to allow individuals who observe modesty to be able to express themselves aesthetically through colour and silhouette whilst observing modesty. The collection eradicates the notion that modest wear is made up of muted colours and shapeless garments. In order to do this, a bright colour palette was introduced inspired by stain glass windows found in mosques. Geometric patterns were introduced by Islamic architecture found in mosques combined with images of nature to create layered prints.
Visit Graduate Fashion Foundation to see work from all shortlisted candidates.