Hilary Wells & Victoria Griffiths with their dress design for French Connection

Last week two teams went head to head to compete for a chance to join the UK Squad going to compete at EuroSkills 2008 in Rotterdam in the Netherlands in September. The team selected to compete in the Fashion Product Development & Production Competition were Hilary Wells and Victoria Griffiths from Somerset College.

Their brief was to design a dress for a UK / international high street retailer. They completed all the design and research work in advance then had to make the patterns from scratch (using basic pattern blocks in size 12) and finally cut and construct the garment (toile) to a production ready standard in calico fabric.

The two teams - one from Somerset College and the other from the University of Huddersfield were selected to receive further training after gaining first and second places at the national heat held at Cardonald College, Glasgow in January 2008. They attended an intensive two day workshop at the Huddersfield Textile Centre of Excellence in early April before taking part in the final which was held at Hinckley College in Leicestershire from the 15th - 17th April.

Katie Ann Eardley & Katy Holgreaves with their dress design for Whistles

The team was chosen following a nationwide hunt for fresh new design talent held by Skillfast-UK, the Sector Skills Council for fashion and textiles and UK Skills.

The response was extraordinary, with colleges, universities and businesses from across the UK all nominating their talented teams to compete in Rotterdam next year.

Skillfast-UK was looking for a team with the ability and flair to represent the UK at the highest level and showcase tomorrow’s talent. Linda Florence, Chief Executive of Skillfast-UK, said: “The level of interest in this competition has been remarkable.

“It has highlighted that we have a wealth of talented young, up and coming designers here in the UK - I am only pleased that I am not going to be on the judging panel!”

Linda continues: “It’s great to see fashion production and development making its world debut at EuroSkills 2008 in Rotterdam next year.

“The UK is home to some of the world’s most creative design talent, but it is very important that these creative skills are matched by top-notch technical ability, something that EuroSkills is very keen to promote.”

Skillfast-UK and UK Skills, a not-for-profit organisation that champions skills and learning for work, worked together to organise the UK entry into the competition.

EuroSkills 2008 will see hundreds of young professionals, students and graduates from 22 European countries, compete and demonstrate their skills in almost 30 typically European trades.

This new innovative event will showcase European skills on an international platform and will consist of skills competitions, demonstrations, interactive events and conferences.