The First Sussex Fashion Awards 2011 – Star Communications are pleased to be sponsors of the First Sussex Fashion Awards 2011 – sponsoring ‘The Sussex Fashion Outsanding Achievement of The Year Award 2011′

The Fashion Trust, the Charity that stages the awards have produced a special celebratory eMagazine which is available to read at www.fashionsussex.co.uk

Nominated by the Public, The first Sussex Fashion Awards were staged mid month and saw a number of Sussex fashion entrepreneurs, businesses and designers collect their accolades.

The Dress for Excess exhibition staged since February 2011 at The Brighton Royal Pavilion and Musuems and continues through until February 2012, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Regency Act by looking at the life of George IV as prince, regent and king through fashions of the late Georgian period at The Rpyal Pavilion, Prince Regent Gallery.

Congratulations to all the Museum  team who celebrated this win and Star Communications are proud to be sponsors to such a professional team exhibit.

See further details 

Organised by The Fashion Trust – a charity set up to help promote young designers and the fashion industry in general, across the region, seems to have scored a popular vote with the public. More than 700 nominations cast over 12 Awards wittled down now to 40 Sussex finalists.

Categories ranging across many disciplines including design, support services and retailing.

The current support that The Trust offers encompasses some big names in the industry all donoring their time free.

Good luck to all finalists – there’s some great professional judges involved looking at all your offers.

There’s also a growing list of fashion sponsorships on offer for all award winners to benefit and enjoy  - for each and every award – a big thank you to those individuals and companies concerned.

As a trustee, it would be good to hear from those based across Sussex who would like to further become involved with The Fashion Trust, year 2. There’s a timeline on the home page of www.fashionsussex.co.uk outlining achievements for the first year and perhaps you have something that’s additional and helpful to (young) Sussex fashion businesses to offer.

Finally a big thank you to Jake Leith who has taken an active role in making sure this all happens to support fashion graduates from Brighton University and Mike Weatherley MP for his support of the creative industries and knowledge of Intellectual Property matters.

Please contact the charity directly at info@fashionsussex.co.uk for further information or donor time and help and that you may be able to offer.

Fantastic commercially driven collections from 30 final year students from The Fashion & Textiles department, University of Brighton, Sussex, showed a complete and very mature understanding of fashion needs for design houses and retail groups needs of the industry, under the direction of a very experienced fashion and textiles team headed up by Jake Leith, Head of Fashion and Business Development.

Menswear ranges,unbelievably,  in abundance too.

Great fabric techniques, weave, print, knit, and fashions, great styling and good direction, coupled with a professional approach made this one of the best University presentational shows in the region, 2011

South Coast Fashion Consultancy – www.starcommunications.org.uk

A glorious sunny lunchtime saw Alexandra Turchyn, of the House of Colour, open up the event and introduce the trustees,  followed by short speeches provided by Mike Weatherley MP representing Hove & Portslade, and Jake Leith, President Elect of the Chartered Society of Designers, lead Business & Professional Practice in Fashion & Textiles at Brighton University, both trustees of The Fashion Trust,  both judges for the first Sussex Fashion Awards 2011.

 Mike Weatherley MP stated that he was

“a supporter of the creative industries across Brighton & Hove”…

His particular expertise involvement too, with intellectual property rights, he saw

“equally, as important for the fashion world for designers to protect their designs as other creative areas such as music”…

More of Mike Weatherley MP on designers rights, Intellectual Property Rights can be heard

http://fashionsussex.co.uk/fashion-judges/

Jake Leith stated that he felt it was  

“a great opportunity as a Trustee” …

“This project is timely for Sussex fashion”…

“chance & opportunity to look at fashion right across the region”…

“A fantastic platform to generate the fashion business locally”…

More of Jake Leith can be heard in conversation at http://www.fashionsussex.co.uk/fashion-judges/

12 Awards are up for grabs including coveted ‘Sussex Fashion Emerging Talent Award 2011’ and ‘Sussex Fashion Designer of the Year Award 2011’  with finalists include a host of Sussex finest fashion designers, retailers, models, photographers fashion ambassadors, and more.

About The Sussex Fashion Awards

The Fashion Trust has been created to link both academics and professionals alike, it’s primary focus of the UK regional fashion industry, creativity and design, business mentoring, and associated industries linked to it.

Its current primary emphasis being on helping designers to start their businesses, manufacturing, and exporting from the Brighton & Hove and Sussex region.

It’s trustees are from various fashion industry backgrounds but bring a wealth of experience to this project including production, design, buying and retail with international store groups, senior fashion education and development, and Intellectual Property Rights and Legislation.  

The Sussex Fashion Awards are being staged, to not only reward those in the industry, with the recognition they deserve, but  increase the visibility of fashion in the region, for all to benefit.

 Further Information available   

The Fashion Trust

The Trustees include Jake Leith – President Elect of the Chartered Society of Designers; Mike Weatherley MP, Hove and Portslade, a keen supporter of the creative industries and with interests in Intellectual Property Rights; Michaela Walker, Director, Star Communications Org Uk, Fashion Consultancy.

Its current primary emphasis being

•increasing fashion visibility in the Sussex region

•manufacturing from the Brighton & Hove & Sussex region

•exporting globally

In a short time space of time since the Trusts launch in January 2011

-50 Sussex designers have registered with The Trust and other associated fashion services

-Design works and manufacturing engaged in the Sussex region through The Trust

-The Trusts website extended with further support information

- Staging The Sussex Fashion Awards 2011 - the new fashion event recognizing the very best of regional fashion and its talent, influential people in fashion today, across Sussex. Finalists were announced late May 2011 with the final programmed for Autun 2011.  Judging takes place over the

The Trustees would be pleased to hear from prfoessionals in this region, national retail groups and manufacturers. who may be interested in supporting projects.

View more information at www.fashionsussex.co.uk