Gemma picks up unexpected Prealpina prize
17/07/2009
Conceria Prealpina, from Chiampo in northern Italy, decided to award a cash prize for what it deemed to be the best display of student design talent at the Beast to Beauty conference in Northampton on July 17.
Twenty students from colleges and universities across the UK were present at the event thanks to special funding from industry association The Leathersellers Company. Many set up displays of their gloves, shoes, handbags and other leathergoods in a room beside the main conference hall.
The senior management from Prealpina decided to give the prize to Gemma Johnson, an accessory designer who recently finished her course at Cordwainers College, part of the University of the Arts in London.
Ms Johnson’s handbag designs, featuring a firm look, with sharp definition in the shape of a series of straight lines across the black leather, attracted a large amount of attention from delegates at the conference.
Prealpina managing director, Giancarlo Baldisserotto, said her designs were very distinctive and stood out because they were different from the norm. “The standard was very high,” he added, “and we’re delighted to be able to offer encouragement to a young designer at the start of her career.”
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