Northampton graduate wins first ever Weleda Skin Care Fashion Award

Graduate fashion students from the University of Northampton had the opportunity to showcase their designs at a London Fashion Week event, resulting in Cornelia Parker winning the Weleda Skin Food Fashion Award.

The nine up-and-coming designers, who graduated this summer, were tasked with designing fashion pieces by taking inspiration from Weleda’s Skin Food, and presented their work at a special event in London on 17 September, which celebrated 90 years of the iconic skincare product.

The final pieces were shortlisted and judged by a high-profile judging panel, including the University’s own Head of Fashion, Dr Julie King, Fashion Commentator Caryn Franklin, plus Tracy Mulligan, Creative Director of sustainable fashion brand People Tree, Diana Verde Nieto, Founder of Positive Luxury and Weleda’s Regional Director for Western Europe, Peter Brändle.

Cornelia Parker was picked as a winner following deliberation from the judges, and took home a £1,000 bursary as well as a year’s supply of Weleda skincare. Her design combined sustainable and natural fabrics and was described by judges as “relaxed, natural and experimental”.

Cornelia said: “I’m so thrilled and honoured to have won the Weleda Skin Food Fashion Award. I wanted to create an outfit that suited the Weleda ethos, so with this in mind I selected garments that are both sustainable and as natural as possible.”

Judge and Fashion Commentator Caryn Franklin announced Cornelia as the winner, stating; “Cornelia’s piece truly em
bodied the Weleda sustainability ethos and showcased many different design techniques, showing Cornelia’s skilled craftsmanship and versatility as a designer. More than that however, she had a currency and modernity which had the judges in unanimous agreement.”

Other highly commended designers included Tiffany Ruff, whose shoe design caught judges’ attention with an eye-catching print including calendula and chamomile, as well as Adele Jolly, who created boots made from a sustainable and distinctive bacteria material.

Dr Julie King, Head of Fashion at the University of Northampton commented: “Our Fashion students have become widely recognised for their talents and skills in craftsmanship, design and manufacture – and most importantly for being ahead of the design curve. It was a fantastic opportunity to partner with Weleda and celebrate young British fashion in their anniversary year.”

Speaking about the partnership, Jayn Sterland, Managing Director at Weleda UK added: “It has been wonderful to celebrate and support emerging British talent in the fashion industry, and incredibly inspiring to see Weleda Skin Food interpreted in such different and creative ways.”