Lycra brand owner Invista has announced the four finalists for the Lycra Future Designers Award, a part of the WGSN Global Fashion Awards ceremony.

The finalists in this year’s edition of Lycra Future Designers include candidates from four different countries: Lucy Gardener from the UK, Patricia Clariza from the US, Hanna Lucatelli from Brazil, and Han Zhongshu from China.

International platform

This year is the fifth edition of WGSN Global Fashion Awards and Lycra Future Designers will offer one outstanding student or graduate designer the chance to work with expert mentors at Invista. In addition the winner will receive fabrics with Lycra fibre, a package to help with the development of a collection to help kick-start their careers.

“The WGSN Global Fashion Awards offers the perfect international platform for Invista, owner of the Lycra brand, to celebrate young up and coming design from across the globe. Especially as the four finalists represent the Americas, Europe and Asia, providing cultural and geographical diversity,” says Denise Sakuma, Invista Apparel Global Director of Brand and Communications.

“We are so excited to be able to utilise this platform to launch new creative talents that will help lead and design the apparel industry.”

Taking part

Participants were invited to submit designs that could be manufactured using Lycra fibre products. Entries needed to be made up of any of the following categories of apparel: intimates, swim, active sportswear or hosiery/tights.

Lucy from the UK is thrilled to have made the final. She said: “I can't quite believe it! It's really great to have the recognition especially as I am in the process of starting up Fierlan; a women’s cycling clothing company. I loved working with Lycra fibre as they offered all the performance benefits, whilst creating the flattering look I was aiming for. I am looking forward to developing more women's performance cycling garments for my brand and being a finalist for this award has given me just the push I needed!”

This year, the winner will be announced at a star-studded, exclusive gala event at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London on 30 October.

WGSN

WGSN, the leading trend and style forecaster, identifies and analyses current and future style trends and provides its customers with state-of-the-art online tools that that can be used to create commercially successful products and services.

WGSN customers include many of the world's leading apparel, style, design and retail companies including Levi Strauss & Co, Adidas, Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products, Benetton Group, and Marks and Spencer, among others.

The WGSN Global Fashion Awards recognise innovation in fashion and retail design on a worldwide scale.

www.globalfashionawards.com

www.invista.com