CSM student to design for World famous Designer

by Cher Heasmer

A Central Saint Martins (CSM) student has been chosen by world famous fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg (DVF) to have her design produced and sold across DVF stores in London.

23 year-old Carrie Hill impressed the judge with her design of an African-inspired dress during a Univerity design competition open to all BA Fashion Print students at CSM.

Hill said: “It's really fantastic to have won because it’s so exciting as a designer to see your work go into production and it's also encouraging in my final year as work gets busier and becomes more stressful.

"I entered the competition because it sounded like a great chance to get work showcased and put into shops."

Inspired by collection

Vice president of design at DVF, Elisa Palomino, organised the competition which was judged by Diane Von Furstenberg herself.

Students were required to produce illustrations and technical drawings of a fashion piece inspired by the spring/summer DVF collection.

“I did lots of water-colour paintings for my research and came up with a print resembling a cross between cascading flowers and a cheetah sprinting through the wild," said Hill.

"I thought these two emotions - fiery and beautiful - might identify with the spirit of a DVF woman."

Placement

The fashion print student met von Furstenberg during a work placement at the DVF studio in New York last year.

She added: "[Diane] does get involved with the designing and loves print so it was a great studio for an industry work placement.

"I am very grateful to Diane for selecting my design to produce and sell in Matches and DVF stores in London – and I am very excited to see my work in their shops."

The iconic fashion designer told Vogue magazine: “I am so glad Carrie won. Her eye, humour and sense of colour is great.”

Carrie’s animal print dress has already been produced and is predicted to be in stores by May this year.