Success at Graduate Fashion Week
Thomas Crisp, Ravensbourne BA (Hons) Fashion student has secured the top prize for Menswear at this year’s Graduate Fashion Week at London’s Earls Court 2. This is the second year in a row that a Ravensbourne student has won this coveted Menswear prize, which last year went to Mehmet Ali. This win strengthens Ravensbourne’s reputation for strong contemporary menswear; within the past five years other winners have included Jessica Au and Jasper Chadprajong.
The award was announced at last night’s Gala Ceremony, by a panel of judges including Alberta Ferretti, Betty Jackson, Zandra Rhodes and designers Clements Ribeiro. Thomas was presented with his award by Dylan Jones from GQ who said “he won simply because he was the best!”
Thomas’ collection features Gilded youth, featuring 18th century Parisian gangs, translating the work of artist Boris Tellegen into garment layering in the collection. The collection included immaculately executed leather jackets and beautifully tailored pieces which were accessorized with neck scarves.
Photos: Paul Harness
Anticipation for the Ravensbourne catwalk show at Graduate Fashion Week is always high having clinched many of the top awards at this prestigious event over the last few years. Ravensbourne is renowned for its challenging cutting, bold use of knit and print and experimental use of blended digital techniques. The show this year exemplified this with much of the work taking inspiration from animal and pop-art imagery, described by The Telegraph’s Fashion Director Hilary Alexander as “cartoon-chic and a ‘carnival of the animals’”.
Ravensbourne’s was a graduate collection of beautifully tailored menswear, including Thomas’ work [pictured]. The womenswear ranged from elegant and bold knitwear to eclectic designs incorporating Swarovski crystals, horse-hair and boxing gloves, and exciting textiles creating utilising Ravensbourne’s digital print.
Dorota Watson, Ravensbourne’s Subject Leader, Fashion said: “Our BA (Hons) Fashion students are exceptionally talented and we’re delighted that Tom Crisp has won Best Menswear. Graduate Fashion Week is a springboard for student careers and I am sure this year will be no exception for our graduates. I am very proud of them all, and would like to congratulate them on their success. I’d also like to thank the hard work of our teaching staff. As designers and industry professionals in their own right they are an inspiration to our students.”
On winning his award Thomas Crisp said: “I am absolutely thrilled by the award and the fantastic comments from the judges who commented on my use of colour and fabric. This is an amazing beginning to my postgraduate studies at the RCA and I am really excited about the future!”
Dame Vivienne Westwood was front-row VIP guest at the Ravensbourne catwalk show on Monday morning. Dame Vivienne is currently working on a climate change television project with our broadcasting students and agreed to attend to support our fashion students. After the show, she went backstage to congratulate them. “I was very impressed. There was some very good talent and a lot of hard work,” she said.
Graduate Fashion Week is sponsored by the British high street chain, River Island and is the largest event of its type in the world. Staged annually for the last 19 years, it now represents the work of more than 1,000 students from more than 35 universities and fashion college. Ravensbourne students were shortlisted in the following categories: Thomas Crisp – River Island Gold Award, Danielle Ingemann – Textiles Award, and Kate Swingler – Fashion Promotion Media and Design Award.
