UEL student‘s award-winning designer dress goes on sale with high street brand
Tuesday 17 April 2012
UEL graduate, Le Thuy Le Thi, has been collaborating with household fashion brandGeorge to make an affordable version of her award-winning designer dress available to everyone through stores and online outlets.
Fashion graduate, Le Thuy Le Thi, first came to the attention of the fashion world after winning the Graduate Fashion Week ‘People’s Choice’ award last year, voted for by viewers of ITV’s flagship daytime show, This Morning.
The winning dress, which comes from Le Thuy’s collection, 'Afternoon Tea', inspired by the classic imagery of an English afternoon tea and the ornate floral designs of Chinese pottery, won the online vote by a landslide according to the show’s producers. Le Thuy was greeted with rapturous applause by the 600 strong audience when the result was announced at Graduate Fashion Week’s Gala show, following the programme.
Now a simplified and highly-affordable knee-length diffusion version of that much-lauded dress is available to buy through George for everyday wear, retailing at just £18.
Le Thuy said: “My inspiration came from design elements like the flowers and ornaments from Chinese potteries. I love English afternoon tea, but imagined using Chinese tea sets for it. I wanted to fuse them together in a way, which suggested a meeting of styles between the Orient and the West.”
She added: “I am very pleased with the resulting dress, George have done a fantastic job in making it look as original as my winning design. The price is amazing too for a ‘designer piece’. I still can’t quite believe that it’s available online and in stores, it’s all very exciting!”
Catherine Harper, Dean of UEL’s School of Arts and Digital Industries, said: “We’re all delighted that Le Thuy’s talents as a fashion designer have been recognised in this way, it’s exciting to know that her hard work and creativity has been translated into a product which anyone can own. My order arrived within 24 hours and I’m impressed.”
Womenswear designer at George, Amanda Wilkinson, said: “We are thrilled for Le Thuy and think the dress looks fantastic, it makes a wonderful addition to our womenswear collections.”
Le Thuy recommends that the versatile chiffon dress be worn with simple accessories, which can be adapted to ensure its suitability for any occasion.
Notes to Editors
The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.
