A press/blogger invitation to attend the Fashion Designers’ & Craft Makers’ Network annual Young Designer Awards show was an opportunity not to be missed. It is a new departure to feature a fashion show on my blog but as the event combines two of my passions, fashion and supporting young people to achieve their goals it was an easy decision to take. Photographer, Iza Jarcyn, and I hopped on a plane.




Young designers competed for the prestigious title and the winner announced. The title of FDC Young Designer 2018 deservedly went to Bethany Hilton. Bethany graduated from Birmingham City University only this year but has already clocked up impressive work experience with J W Anderson, Julian MacDonald and Amanda Wakely amongst others.




Bethany Hilton designs and mood board







From the start I liked Bethany’s professionalism, and although I thought that her competition model was rather overwhelmed by fabric, I liked the attention to detail in the design and make.

I particularly liked the designers screen printed fabric designs (hand painting her screens with dye resistant media first to create unique textures in the design) and the metallic highlights in print and in accessories. I loved the silver hardware (but of course!) that Bethany used to create detachable pockets and straps.

The final deciding factor for me, and a guess for many other fashionistas, was would I wear it? I this case a resounding yes! I would dearly have liked to sneak off with one of Bethany’s maxi coats. I would style it street wise over jeans and tee and it would look sensational.