The Store Oxford, and independent design talent management body, Oxford Fashion Studio, are delighted to announce Ella Douglas as the worthy winner of Fashion Forward, the inaugural edition of the establishments’ joint fashion design competition, aimed at independent UK designers.
As part of the competition, a group of talented young designers presented their creations to an illustrious panel of judges, including Hannah Kane, Editor and Lecturer at the London College of Fashion; Tiffany Saunders, Fashion & Runway Director at Oxford Fashion Studio; George Graham, Founder and CEO at Wolf & Badger; and Simon Drake, General Manager of The Store.
Ella’s creations will be showcased at The Store from 3 February, throughout ‘fashion month’. Her work will be filling The Store’s already iconic floor-to-ceiling windows, facing on to Broad Street. The collection will also be available through champions of independent design, Wolf & Badger, and via Oxford Fashion Studio’s new digital platform.
Carl Anglim, Director at Oxford Fashion Studio, says, "The creativity and originality of emerging designers across the UK is truly inspiring. Oxford Fashion Studio was founded in 2009 to support that talent and now operates across the fashion capitals. We are thrilled to be back in Oxford offering a platform for emerging designers where Boswell's once stood, and we applaud Ella Douglas for her outstanding concept that has made her our deserved winner."
Ella’s window display at The Store Oxford will base itself on transforming the grit of transportation into an opulent fashion statement, in line with her collection being a reimagining of trucker culture and queer aesthetics. The backdrop will be adorned with Oxford Trucking Hats arranged over distinct repurposed tyre shelving, to form a blurred mosaic of hues amidst a sea of parking tickets. The interactive window (equipped with QR codes for wider collection engagement) will create a captivating juxtaposition against the city's traditional university charm, whilst paying homage to its rich motor industry heritage. Ella, who was born and bred in Oxford, comments, “fashion often exists only in 2D, online. The chance to showcase my brand in person to a diverse audience is a privilege, essential for an emerging designer.”
