Birmingham’s Fashion Oscars have been revealed. The winners of Marketing Birmingham and
Masshouse’s Rising Stars competition are Young Photographer of The Year Liam Wycherley;
Fashion Entrepreneur Lisa Touw; Fashion Student Tatiana Biktimirova; Jewellery
Entrepreneur Emma Atherton; Jewellery Student Katie Wilkinson; Male Model Richard Carr
and Female Model Laura Powell.
Young Photographer of the Year winner Liam Wycherley entered his fashion shot as
an unconventional way of advertising a city. He said: “Birmingham is surrounded by
countryside so I thought it would be an interesting idea to show people coming from the rural
area on their way to the city. I have created a story by showing a young woman leading her
man to the shopping capital so she can get the retail pleasure. It also projects the fact that
Birmingham is a lot greener that other large cities. I would like my image to be seen in
magazines and bus shells around the area. I think that the audience would see that
Birmingham is at the top of the fashion market and also has scenic style.”
Fashion Entrepreneur winner Lisa Touw moved to Birmingham to study fashion at UCE
seven years ago. After graduating she chose to stay in Birmingham, setting up a stall on the
rag market selling her own designs and customising other peoples clothes before opening her
own shop Psiclone in Corporation Street. For her Rising Stars Fashion Entrepreneur entry,
Lisa submitted a Voller corset teamed with one of her recycled skirts made from men’s
t-shirts. Lisa said: “If a stock item in my shop doesn’t sell then they are recycled so that there is no waste. All of my inspiration comes from Birmingham, in particular kids I see out in the city.”
Fashion Student winner Tatiana Biktimirova is a 17 years old A level student at King
Edwards School in Handsworth. Her dress design features a draped full length gown with
open sides to expose the stomach and back, a diamante trim along the hips and a fitted
hood. Tatiana says: “My dress design was inspired by the cross cultural elements of
teenagers wearing hoodies as a fashion statement with the impact of cultures who wear
hoods or scarves for their religious beliefs.”
Jewellery Entrepreneur winner Emma Atherton has lived and worked in Birmingham
since 1998, first as a student at The School of Jewellery where she gained both a Masters
and Bachelors degree in Jewellery and Silversmithing and subsequently as a jewellery
designer based in the Jewellery Quarter. For her Rising Stars Jewellery Entrepreneur entry,
Emma submitted a white Berry Clusters ring and necklace inspired by Selfridge’s organic
curves. The Berry Clusters pieces were awarded Highly Commended at the Gift of The Year
Awards 2006, Emma has also won the British Jewellers’ Association Award for Excellence at
the British Craft Fair in Harrogate earlier this year.
Jewellery Student winner Katy Wilkinson is 22 years old and graduated from the School
Of Jewellery in Birmingham with a First Class Honours degree in Jewellery and Silversmithing
earlier this year. For her Rising Stars competition entry, she submitted a range of pieces that
were inspired by scaffolding forms and architecture taken from an urban environment. Katy
has won £200 worth of jewellery materials vouchers for Sutton Tools in the Jewellery
Quarter. Her jewellery was also worn by local supermodel Erin O’Connor in a photo shoot to
promote the competition.
Female Model winner Laura Powell is nineteen years old and from Shirley. She says
“Kate Moss is my favourite model and if my modelling career took off like her’s I
would be ecstatic. This is the first time that I’ve entered a modelling competition and
I am so happy that I’ve won – this is a once in a lifetime chance and I’m delighted to
represent Birmingham.”
Male Model winner Richard Carr is a 26 year old bar manager from Birmingham. In
the summer he took to the catwalk for a friend’s graduate UCE show and admires
David Beckham’s sartorial elegance. He says “I entered Marketing Birmingham’s
competition as I thought that if I won it could be a launch pad to not just a
modelling career in Birmingham but for anywhere in the world.”
Both Laura and Richard have received £250 worth of Harvey Nichols vouchers and
featured in a photo shoot for Marketing Birmingham. They will take to the catwalk in
October and November for city fashion shows and feature in advertising images for
the city.
Rising Stars judges included Stephen Reynolds, Development Director from Rising Stars
sponsor Masshouse Developments Limited, Midlands Today presenter Suzanne Virdee,
Harvey Nichols General Manager Kevin Breese and fashion designer Alivn Loy.The
competition has run over the last three months to find Birmingham’s next generation of
fashion talent. At a party hosted by Masshouse and presented by Heart 100.7FM DJ Ed
James, the winners were announced and picked up their trophies and prizes.
Marketing Director, Dave Hodgson, Marketing Birmingham said: “Rising Stars is the first peak
in our fashion campaign which aims not only to encourage more people into the fashion
industry, but to boost the profiles of the existing creative talent here in Birmingham and
contribute to the city’s reputation as a stylish destination.”
As sponsor of the Rising Stars campaign, Stephen Reynolds, Development Director for
Masshouse Developments Ltd said: “Birmingham is undergoing an exciting transformation,
and we believe it is important to celebrate the wealth of creative talent and energy driving
the city’s impetus for change. The Rising Stars competition winners are sending a very clear
message to prospective graduates and entrepreneurs that Birmingham is the place to be. “
The final category of the Rising Stars competition is for schools to design a Birmingham tshirt. Five shortlisted designs are on the Heart 100.7FM website for people to vote on their
favourite. Heart 100.7FM FM presenter Steve Denyer and Stephen Reynolds, Development
Director from Masshouse Developments Limited, will announce the winning school in the next
two weeks.
Ends
For further information, visuals and interviews, please contact Tracey Saunders, Head of PR &
Corporate Affairs, Marketing Birmingham on 0121 202 5002 or email us.
Pictured left to right: Tatiana Biktimirova, Laura Powell, Richard Carr, Liam Wycherley, Lisa
Touw and Dave Hodgson. (Jewellery Student winner Katy Wilkinson and Jewellery
Entrepreneur winner Emma Atherton were unable to attend the
event.)
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