Fashion graduate Jett Sweeney's dress hits high street
25 Mar '11
3 min read
An Edinburgh fashion student is set to 'make her Marks' with one of the UK's most iconic retailers, Marks & Spencer as the dress she designed is being retailed on the high street.
Jett Sweeney, 23 from Musselburgh, Edinburgh launched the dress in the Edinburgh Princes Street Marks & Spencer store on Wednesday 23rd March.
After scooping the prestigious Scottish Fashion Graduate of the Year 2010 title at the Scottish Fashion Awards last year, sponsored by Marks & Spencer, Jett joined the retailer's design team in London for a one-month work placement. Now, some 8 months later, the dress which won Jett her Scottish Fashion Awards title is being retailed in M&S stores.
Jett graduated from Edinburgh College of Art after gaining a BA Hons in Fashion Design. The design brief for the awards, set by Marks & Spencer was to create a cocktail dress for the retailer's Limited Collection brand, which would be fit to turn heads on the Scottish Fashion Awards red carpet. The judges were so impressed they decided to retail the dress in some of their UK stores.
Dominic Fry, Director of Communications, Marks & Spencer, said: “I was very impressed with Jett and her design at the judging day last year – she had put a lot of work into addressing the brief we set. She was enthusiastic, passionate and – most importantly – her design was outstanding.
“The dress Jett has created really captures the fashion-forward nature of the Scottish Fashion Awards, whilst being a commercially viable product for M&S, which was absolutely what the brief asked for. I am sure the public will love it”.
Jett said: “It was a real honour to win this prestigious award and to be recognised by the Scottish Fashion Awards and such a fantastic brand like Marks & Spencer. The work placement I was fortunate enough to enter last summer was incredible – a real insight into how a major high street retailer comes up with it's collections and turns them into a reality.
“Now, to have one of my own creations in a Marks & Spencer store and even worn by the public is every designer's dream. I still actually can't believe it and I am utterly thrilled at this incredible opportunity!”
Tessa Hartmann, Chair and Founder of the Scottish Fashion Awards, said: “The Scottish Fashion Awards is all about nurturing new talent and providing a platform for their creativity and skills. Jett's dress being retailed within Marks & Spencer is the optimum platform any graduate could ask for and we are very grateful to the incredible British institution, Marks & Spencer for partnering with us and supporting Scottish fashion talent.”
marketing@alchempro.com
