Danier launches leather design competition for fashion students
25/09/2009
Specialist Canadian leather fashion retailer and manufacturer Danier has announced a design competition for students at Ryerson University in Toronto.
The Danier Design Challenge is open to third-year students at the university's school of fashion and will aim to uncover "Canada's newest leather design talent". The winner will see his or her creation, which must be an outerwear garment for women, manufactured and available in selected Danier stores next autumn.
The company said it hopes the competition will serve as both recognition and encouragement for Canadian student design talent.
Students have until September 29 to register their interest, when those taking part will receive a tour of Danier's headquarters in Toronto and hear a lecture on the leather industry. The company has said it will mentor students throughout the competition.
The programme will take place in three phases. Interested students will first provide an illustration of their original design for a women's outerwear garment. Based on the designs submitted, entries will be narrowed down to 25 contestants.
In phase two, students will be asked to produce a muslin prototype of their design idea and, after judging each of the prototypes, a panel of judges will pick 15 students for phase three, in which the finalists will produce a fully finished garment using leather provided by the company. The public will also be invited to cast votes at www.danier.com for their favourite designer.
"As a Canadian retail and manufacturing company we couldn't think of a better partnership to encourage and nurture our young design talent. By working with Ryerson we have created a platform for designers to showcase this talent," said Danier chief executive, Jeffrey Wortsman.
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