Chloe Jones from Bath Spa University was awarded the Womenswear and overall George Gold Award at the prestigious Graduate Fashion Week Awards (GFW) ceremony attended by the national and international press, on Wednesday 13th June with a prize of £21,000. She joins a prestigious list of previous Gold Award winners including designers such as Christopher Bailey, Chief Creative Officer – Burberry, Matthew Williamson, Stella McCartney, Antonio Berardi and Giles Deacon.
Chloe was selected from the GFW Bath Spa University catwalk show by a team of judges including fashion journalist Hilary Alexander to go forward as one of 10 finalists. 21 year old Chloe from Oxford said; “it’s such a privilege to be able to show at Graduate Fashion Week, let alone be nominated for an award. It was such an honour to meet all the judges and have the opportunity to show them my work, so to come away with both the Womenswear and Gold Award is incredible. I’m so excited for what lies ahead, not just for myself but for the course at Bath Spa too”.
After interviews with a portfolio of work, the final decisions were made by Daphne Guinness, artist and style icon, Suzy Menkes, fashion journalist and Fashion Editor of the International Herald Tribune, Mathew Williamson, Holly Shackleton Editor i.D magazine, Marigay Mckee, Fashion and Beauty Director – Harrods, and Fiona Lambert, Brand Director – George, the main sponsors of Graduate Fashion Week.
Bath Spa University runs a three-year BA (Hons) Fashion Design course and this award reflects the focus on creativity underpinned with the technical skills and craft of fashion, as well as the ambitions of the course to compete on a national and international level. The course is in its eighth year, and this is the third year of showcasing at Graduate Fashion Week. The course also has a unique partnership with the Fashion Museum Bath.
According to Louise Pickles, Course Leader of Fashion at Bath Spa University “We are delighted for Chloe who has worked hard over the last three years to reach this point. This is a tremendous achievement and reflects the depth of thought that went into the concept for the collection, as well as the high level of workmanship to bring the collection to fruition”.
