DMU students win prizes at textile design awards

De Montfort University (DMU) students won some of the top prizes at the Bradford Textile Society design competition awards.

Final year fashion and textile design student Penny Kowalkowski won the top prize and 500 pounds in the Clothworker’s Company Mixed Media category with her hybrid leather and knitwear clothing piece. She designed the garment with dance in mind and the way in which people interact with one another as her inspiration.

Designer: Penny Kowalkowski

Kowalkowski said in a statement: “The Bradford Awards attract thousands of entries from students and independent designers, so to receive that recognition is something I still need to get my head around. I’m just so thrilled.

“Throughout my course at DMU, I have focussed predominantly on knitwear and worked on my own shaping technique. It allowed me to explore how knitwear can be paired with different materials, so for my entry, I combined the rigidness of the leather with the stretch and fluidity of knit to produce a very lightweight and flexible material.

“Shaping has also proven to be a sustainable approach by resulting in a zero-waste product. It creates a quality product that can last longer. Fast fashion can have a damaging effect on the environment, so it’s time to promote sustainable techniques.”

Designer: Gabriella Huck

Textile design graduate Gabriella Huck won the second prize in the same grouping for her innovative acoustic fabric created through a process called pleating, folding fabrics into shapes to create volume and texture.

“Usually, acoustic fabrics are created through the conventional methods such as printing, knitting or weaving. As my fabric was instead created through a mixture of folding and pleating, I was confident that it would stand out against others,” Huck added.

Eleven students from DMU either placed or received commendations for their entries.

Photo credit: De Montfort University