Design student Emma Hodgson has fought off hundreds of competitors to win a place in the final of the prestigious Northern Design Competition. The exhibition and awards evening will take place on Thursday 17^th June at the Rose Bowl, Leeds.

Emma, who has just completed an HND in 3D Design at Calderdale College, entered three outfits into the Fashion Design Category and impressed the judges with her PollyPocket design; a dress inspired by ideas of sustainability in manufacturing in the fashion industry and a personal interest in eighties style.

The dress was designed in two pieces; the front and the back, from a single piece of coral material. Smoky grey pockets were added, also produced from a single piece of material, thus massively reducing the waste that would have come from a cutting pattern with many parts for sleeves and other pieces. Geometric patterns in black edge the neckline and pockets and the slightly exposed zip is a key eighties-inspired design feature. Material was sourced from a local supplier and Emma saved cost and waste by using their roll ends. 

The Northern Design Competition started five years ago to demonstrate the value and raise the profile of the northern design industry. The competition rewards the talents of creative arts students from across the North of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and provides entrants with the opportunity to exhibit their work to future employers. The main categories include Architectural Design, Fashion Design, Film & Animation, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interactive Media, Photography and Product Design. Judge of the Fashion category is Christopher Bailey MBE, Chief Creative Officer of Burberry.

“This is such a good end to the year for me; a really good achievement after two years of hard work at College”, said Emma. “I’m so excited to be judged by Christopher Bailey and I’m really looking forward to the awards evening. Even if I don’t win, I’m so pleased to be in the final and this is the start of my career, a whole new challenge”.