Nicola Strathearn, 25

Nicola Strathearn is a star in the making having won the Breaking New Ground prize at last summer’s textiles competition Texprint, chosen by Giles Deacon, and donated by Drapers sister service, WGSN.

Seeing the potential in Nicola’s work to break new fashion ground, Deacon noted at the time that she showed “some beautiful developments of print, texture and fabrics, manipulating them around – really fantastic.”

Strathearn gained a BA printed textiles and surface pattern design from Leeds College of Art and Design and then went on to gain an MA in mixed media textiles at the Royal College of Art.

In 2006 Strathearn won the SETLR fashion competition in Lyon, France, which involved developing a design from concept to final production. She says: “I’m at the early stages of establishing my own business designing accessories and hope to move into garments at a later stage. I’d like to work collaboratively with a fashion designer.”

Julius Schofield, chairman of Texprint, says: “Her work is understated, using new technology and different techniques – half bonding, knitting – in original and surprising ways that are very beautiful. She had the tremendous advantage of honing her skills at the RCA. And she had the experience of working on a collection that went on the runway with Marithé & Francois Girbaud for autumn 08.”

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