As Tom Ford announced the design duo Aminaka Wilmont Fashion Fringe winner 2007. The crowd erupted as Gavin Douglas handed over the trophy designed this year by Manolo Blahnik – one of the world’s most influential shoe designers.

After the noise died down and reality set in they said “Being given this accolade is an amazing honour and has afforded us a fantastic opportunity. Fashion Fringe as an initiative is a great platform for elevating upcoming designers to the next level. One only has to take a look at the past winners’ stories to see what’s now within our grasp.”

Fashion Fringe’s Creative Director, Colin McDowell stated “The standard was extremely high and it was a tough call. After a lot of heated discussion, it was finally agreed that the winners were undoubtedly Aminaka Wilmont.”

Along with all the business support and expert advice required to establish their own business, the winners’ collection will also be exhibiting in Paris and available to buy via the world’s premier luxury fashion e-tailer Net-A-Porter.com. In addition to this, from Spring 2008, Aminaka Wilmont will see their specially designed sunglasses available in over 970 Superdrug stores nationwide in April, via the Superdrug Accessory Award.

Aminaka Wilmont biography
www.aminakawilmont.com



2006 Gavin Douglas

On being announced the winner, lifting the Red Bull Fashion Fringe Wings trophy, designed by jeweller Solange Azagury-Partridge, Gavin was momentarily speechless. "I'm over the moon. It is an amazing opportunity to take my work to the next level. After all the years of hard work it's a dream come true."

Fashion Fringe's Creative Director Colin McDowelll comments, "Fashion Fringe has proved once again that with the right support young British designers can flourish. Fashion Fringe is not about producing stars - but it is about maintaining international interest and subsequent business support in British design talent. I am delighted that the industry continues to embrace this vision" Gavin Douglas' collection is for sale online exclusively on Yoox.com and in Harrods, giving him unprecedented access to the global marketplace.

Gavin Douglas biography
www.gavindouglasdesign.co.uk


2005 Erdem Moralioglu

Winning Fashion Fringe has enabled Erdem to turn his creative talents into a real business. Erdem won two accounts in the UK as a result of Fashion Fringe - Harrods and Ashley's boutique. Both are incredible achievements for a debut collection.

And so to Erdem's first full collection for Autumn Winter 2006. A successful runway show at the V&A Museum on February 14th 2006 has garnered positive feedback from critics and press."Making his catwalk debut, young designer Erdem Moralioglu looked like he had been inspired by iconic 1940's designer Elsa Schiaparelli. Satin dresses covered in prints of birds in flight, strictly tailored grey flannel trouser suits and ankle-length deckchairstripe dresses all made for a strong collection. His accessory of choice was a tiny disc of a hat perched saucily over one eye". (David Hayes, Evening Standard)

To date, S/S sales interest has come from the UK, Australia, US, Japan, Greece and the Emirates.

Erdem Moralioglu Biography
www.erdem.co.uk



2004 Basso & Brooke

Basso & Brooke won the prestigious Fashion Fringe 2004 Award with a collection that was sexually exuberating, using prints that were almost classic and Libertyesque that on close inspection was an orgiastic carnival of sexual liberation and allegories of power.

With a selection panel that includes among its members Rosemary Bravo (Burberry’s CEO), Alexandra Shulman (Editor in Chief, Vogue UK) and Hamish Bowles (American Vogue).

Basso & Brooke have since entered a production and distribution agreement with the Aeffe Group, who also represents Alberta Ferretti, Moschino, Narciso Rodrigues, Jean Paul Gaultier and Pollini brands.

Basso & Brooke Biography
www.bassoandbrooke.com