The uniquely online competition, Design-a-Bag, reaches talents from around the world, ranging from backgrounds in fashion to graphic design. It offers participants a chance to transform creative design into a viable business.
In the world of fashion, it’s often not talent that’s lacking, but opportunity.
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But the success story behind Columbian designer Olga Alfonso is one of the exceptions. Her recent participation in the Design-a-Bag Competition, organised by the international fashion accessories trade fair Fashion Access, has opened up unprecedented opportunities for her globally.
"It was a great opportunity to show my work. As one of the winners, I was invited to attend Fashion Access in Hong Kong where I had met many potential manufacturers that I could work with. One of the Indian factories had also shown interests in my design," she said. Olga is referring to her winning design in 2009, the Tetra Bag, which, like all other entries, was judged based on a graphic design illustration sent online, through to the organisers. |
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Olga Alphonso’s eco-friendly Tetra Bag won best design for the Dream Teens category for the 2009 Design-a-Bag competition
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The uniquely online concept of Design-a-Bag was borne from the goal to easily reach out to designers across the globe– ranging from backgrounds in fashion to graphic design, and to offer all an equal chance to meet prospective business partners who can help realize their dreams.
Alfonso’s opportunities continue to flourish. Recognising true talent, the organisers have recently commissioned her to design the 2010 Design-a-Bag image based on one of her recent designs, the Key Bag.
Made from recycled keyboards and tossed computer parts, the Key Bag resonates with the organiser’s core ideas: Design-a-Bag’s online, digital nature and Fashion Access trade fair’s focus on eco-fashion.
Alfonso explained her thoughts behind the new image: "The idea is to communicate important messages of Design-a-Bag such as its online aspect and its growing awareness and concern for the environment."
"The dual personalities of teenagers, in their period of self-discovery…"– Isabella Burzacchi, on her winning creation, the Masked Bag, for the 2009 competition
The Overall Winner in 2008 Mountain Yam from Hong Kong also highly encourages young designers to participate in the competition. "Although I studied fashion at university, I had very little experience in handbag design. My opportunities has widened since winning the competition. I am now a designer for upscale handbag brand CocoMojo, based in Hong Kong."
Agreed David Frkal, Best Student Designer for the Party category from Czech Republic, who added: "This winning has allowed me to realise my graphic design into an actual, tangible fashion products". Frkal had met with quite a number of new customers when he was invited to attend Fashion Access trade fair in March 2009, where the competitions’ awards event takes place annually.
Inspired by the architectural elegance, I combine laser-cut plastic and metallic leather for texture and colour contrast". – David Frkal, on his winning creation, Patterned Architecture
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Australian handbag designer Louise Farnay, who was on the Design-a-Bag judging panel for 2009, is glad to see so many opportunities opening up to young designers and applauds the global nature of the competition. Farnay added that the flexible judging process - which is also conducted purely online - made it possible for her participate in this important event and fit well into her already busy schedule.
Since its inception 3 years ago, Design-a-Bag has worked with important figures in fashion. Previous judges include handbag designer Lulu Guinness, Shanghai Tang's head textile designer Fabien Blachiera and Roy Peach from London College of Fashion.
Design-a-Bag last year attracted a total of 333 entries they came from 46 different countries and regions, such as Hong Kong, Ghana, Hungary, Korea, US, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Iran and Qatar, and included David Frkal from Czech Republic who was the Best Student Designer Winner for the Party Category, Cherin Sim from Singapore as the Student Winner for the Male Bag, and Isabella Burzacchi, hailing from Italy as the Dream Teens Category Student Winner.
Be the Next Winner!
Submission Deadline for Design-A-Bag 2010:
29 JANUARY 2010
www.designaccess-fa.com |
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Singaporean student designer Cherin Sim won best Male Bag for her contemporary briefcase design, inspired by the angular structure of the Lasalle Shool of the Arts building
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