Two Heriot-Watt University design students featured in last month’s Vogue Italia fashion magazine. Design students Lewis Hobbs and Emma McLellan were selected finalists in this year’s Loro Piana Knitted Design Awards which was covered by Vogue Italia featuring the competition as part of its September issue. 

The students have been collaborating on a joint response since the January semester ahead of the summer project presentation, in combination with their individual coursework, using high quality yarns provided by Loro Piana.

Inspiration for the project of ‘Rediscovery’ saw the pair capture the landscape of the Scottish Borders, textile heritage and traditions in knitting, to inform and produce a collection of knitted fabrics, garment details and design solutions suitable for a ‘Knitted Traveller Jacket’.

School of Textiles and Design Assistant Professor Angela Cassidy commented: “It’s been an amazing opportunity for the students to be involved in this competition and gain insight and experience from a brand synonymous with quality and luxury. They did themselves and the university proud by how they responded to the brief – it was great to witness their work on such a global scale and to have it received so positively by the Loro Piana team and external industry panel.”

Lewis Hobbs travelled to Milan on 20th June for the final to present project outcomes for the ‘Knit Design Award’, responding to brief set by luxury Italian brand, Loro Piana.

The international competition challenged students from six schools of fashion and design including North Carolina State University, the Institut Français de la Mode, Heriot-Watt University, the Politecnico di Milano, Shenkar College of Tel Aviv and Bunka Fashion College of Tokyo to reinterpret the brands ‘Traveller Jacket’ and create a personal, knitwear version.

The student's work was very well received, and the judges were impressed by the fabric collection, use of stitches, fabric weight and quality of finish, with a sophisticated use of colour.

Whilst the Heriot-Watt school of textiles and design students didn't win, they did come first in the category for 'technicality'. This is testimony to the technical curriculum, facilities and support that all students experience as part of their learning. The award, which was first launched in 2016, gives students the chance to present their creative interpretation of some iconic yarns that ‘represent the excellence of Loro Piana’.

knitdesignaward.loropiana.com

September issue of Vogue Italia