Sarah Lee FAD illustration

Work chosen as part of design competition

A fashion student from the University for the Creative Arts at Rochester will be showcasing her designs at London Fashion Week 2012.

Sarah Lee, who is in the third year of a BA (Hons) fashion design degree at UCA, has made the final of an illustration and design competition set by Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD)

Her sketchbook and portfolio will be showcased ahead of FAD’s London Fashion Week show on February 22.

The 22-year-old from Bexleyheath said: “I’m really excited to be selected as a finalist for the FAD Gala Show – it really puts the work I have produced into perspective and shows that people outside UCA appreciate my work.

“It’s an amazing to have my work shown at London Fashion Week, especially as I’m still a student. It is one of the most celebrated events for the fashion industry and being a part of it is a privilege.”

Fashion charity FAD launched the illustration competition to celebrate its tenth anniversary.

Maria Alvarez, FAD Executive Director, said: “For a decade FAD has showcased the talents of UK students on the catwalk in London. Every year we select students based on the sketchbooks and illustrations they submit in the initial stages.

“A lot of work and brilliance goes into creating these inspiring books and drawings but they are often overlooked for the final product, so we launched this competition to celebrate this side of design, and to highlight FAD’s ethos of combining art and fashion.”

Donna Ives, associate dean of fashion at UCA, said: “Sarah’s drawings were really dynamic, demonstrating a strong individual style. She has a real flare for illustration, which is evident in her FAD work.

“Drawing is incredibly important in fashion and is a key skill for every designer. It’s used as a tool to communicate designs, not only in illustrative format but also in technical format, and to explain how ideas can be developed into three-dimensional samples.”

Sarah’s collection is inspired by Russia and the contrast between the elegance of St Petersburg’s and the bleakness of Moscow.