Shirt Launched Ahead of National Apprenticeship Week
06-03-2013
Support the Week; wear the t-shirt!
Followers of Apprenticeships and National Apprenticeship Week can now show their support for the Week with a new t-shirt,designed by a student at the Fashion Retail Academy.
Taking place from 11 –15 March, the sixth annual National Apprenticeship Week will celebrate Apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the economy. More than 800 promotional events run by employers and supporters of Apprenticeships are expected to take place throughout England during the Week.
Twenty-five up-and-coming designers studying at the Fashion Retail Academy submitted entries for the National Apprenticeship Week t-shirt design competition which was judged by an expert panel made up of industry figures and the National Apprenticeship Service. The winning design, by Jessica Tshoukas, depicts a white hot air balloon on a black background with the words ‘the sky’s the limit’ spelled out in a trailing rope.
Jessica, 18, from London, is studying a BTEC Extended National Diploma Level 3 in Art and Design at the Fashion Retail Academy.
The runner up was Claire Flemming, 19, from Middlesex, in second place and joint third place went to 19 year-old Jessica Hide from Essex and Rachel Abebrese, 19, from Berkshire.
The judging panel was made up of Jenny Holloway (Director, Fashion Enter), Joe Massie (WorldSkills UK Alumni and founder of Joseph Massie Creative), Simon Ward, (Chief Operating Officer, British Fashion Council), David Way (Chief Executive, National Apprenticeship Service), Liz Wilson (Head Buyer, Matalan) and Stuart Youngs, (Creative Director, Purpose).
Competition judge Liz Wilson, Head Buyer at Matalan, said: “Jessica’s winning design met all the requirements of the brief and used the most technical skills out of all the entries including contrast stitch detailing, a hand drawn placed graphic, and text typed onto a ‘path’.
“Her design of the balloon signifying reach for the sky and the use of text instead of the balloon string was also very inventive.Jessica also went the extra mile to find a non-standard styled font for the design.”
Jenny Holloway, Director of Fashion Enter, who was also part of the judging panel said:“I have worked in fashion for over 25 years with ten years as a retailer buyer and senior buyer, so I was really impressed with the standard of entries. We have 28 bright young apprentices working with companies such as New Look, House of Fraser and Asos.com all earning while they are learning. The t-shirt competition really sums up the can do attitude of apprentices today.”
David Way, Chief Executive of the National Apprenticeship Service, congratulated Jessica on her winning design:“The entries to the t-shirt competition really highlight the talent among young fashion apprentices and students and I congratulate Jessica on her winning design.
“Apprenticeships are a great way for young people to earn while they learn in a real job, gaining the skills that employers value; and setting them on the road to success in their chosen career. For employers, hiring apprentices is often the very best way of attracting new talent and developing a motivated, skilled and diverse workforce.”
To order a t-shirt, visit https://nationalapprenticeshipservice.williamslea.com
For more information about Apprenticeships visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk