Two of five young PSYBT businesses shortlisted at the 2011 Scottish Fashion Awards were winners at the gala ceremony in Glasgow on June 15th. Henrietta Ludgate, who was funded in 2009 to set up her Scottish luxury womenswear label, was named Scottish Young Designer of the Year. The Highlands-based entrepreneur has built a formidable reputation among highend retailers. She won Ethical Fashion Forum’s Fashion Innovation Award last year for her LFW spring/summer collection, which was such a success that it went on to the fashion weeks of Milan, Paris and Athens. Henrietta was one of nine Scottish designers invited to create a clothing range for the Dressed to Kilt show in New York in April this year. The SFA judges commended the young entrepreneur’s flair for structural design and “her uncanny ability to design with a real sense of her Scottish heritage”.
PSYBT’s other winners were hosiery designers Chloe Patience and Mhairi McNicol of Bebaroque, who took the Scottish Accessory Designer of the Year title. The pair, who started their business in 2007, have built a worldwide following with their unique printed and embroidered tights. Four of the six finalists in the Scottish Young Designer of the Year category were PSYBT-supported.
Also shortlisted were Iona Crawford, Alice Palmer, and Jennifer Coyle and Lyndsay Pagan of Glasgow-based Obscure Couture. The shortlist panel described this year’s list, which also included Kerry Nixon and Marc Ross, as “mighty impressive”. Iona’s vintage, flowing, Italianate damask designs were “picture perfect”, the panel said, while Alice, who was selected in the Fashion Fringe in 2010 by Galliano, was praised for her pleated knitwear that “pushes the boundaries as well as being sexy and powerful”. Alice launched her knitwear label in 2008 and has an impressive list of international stockists. Jennifer and Lyndsay, who set up Obscure Couture last year, were praised for their edgy first collection, which the pair describe as “Punk rock meets Victorian”.
Contact Henrietta Ludgate http://www.henriettaludgate.com
Contact Bebaroque http://www.bebaroque.com
Contact Iona Crawford http://www.ionacrawford.com
Contact Alice Palmer http://www.alicepalmer.co.uk
Contact Obscure Couture http://www.obscure-couture.com
